Blogs

What Happened in Final Days of Legislative Session that Matters to Special Districts?

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti and @Lilia Hernandez Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the California State Legislature concluded its work for the legislative year, bringing the second year of 2025–2026 biennial session to a close, and CSDA was there to advocate for special districts and report out the results that matter to our members. The Legislature acted on a typical volume of legislation over the two-year period, with 2,796 bills moving through the Assembly and 1,447 bills moving through the Senate. To identify and respond to measures affecting special districts, CSDA tracked 2,389 bills over the cycle. Governor Gavin Newsom now has until September 30 to sign or ...

Sacramento Area Becomes 30th CSDA-Affiliated Chapter

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
By: @Dane Wadlé On August 25, the CSDA Board of Directors approved an affiliation agreement with the Sacramento Area Chapter of CSDA. CSDA celebrates the Sacramento Chapter as its 30 th affiliated Chapter. This newly formed chapter is the culmination of multiple years of local leadership. Conversations resumed in earnest last October and continued with three formation meetings in 2026. Through this process, the Chapter adopted bylaws, elected officers, and approved the affiliation agreement with CSDA. The formation committee elected the following special district officials as the inaugural officers for two-year terms: President: Rich ...

New Tire Efficiency Standards Begin in 2029

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti The California Energy Commission (CEC) voted unanimously on August 17 to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report and adopt regulations establishing energy-efficiency standards for replacement tires. The new Replacement Tire Efficiency Program is intended to bring the average efficiency of replacement tires closer to that of tires installed as original equipment on new passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. Although the regulations do not appear to impose direct purchasing or reporting requirements on special districts, they will affect which replacement tires are available for many district fleet vehicles beginning in 2029. ...

Your Response Will Set CSDA’s Advocacy Direction

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
By: @Anna Stagg Districts Stronger Together means that a united voice for special districts makes CSDA’s advocacy powerful and effective. To best represent and serve California’s 2,000 special districts, we depend on your input. Each even-numbered year we distribute an advocacy priorities survey to gather the member feedback which drives our advocacy efforts. With the 2025-2026 State Legislative Session officially concluded as of August 31, CSDA is preparing for the 2027-2028 Session. On October 22, CSDA’s Legislative Committee will meet for a planning session to give our lobbyists direction for the upcoming Session. CSDA’s success depends on focusing ...

CSDA Protects Local Wildfire Cost Recovery Against Proposed Liability Shift

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
By: @Anthony Tannehill CSDA successfully advocated to protect special districts’ ability to seek full restitution for wildfire damages from investor-owned electric utilities (IOU’s) as Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed liability package was introduced over the final weekend of the 2025-2026 State Legislative Session without provisions opposed by CSDA and other key stakeholders. SB 492 (Becker and Petrie-Norris) , was introduced early Saturday morning, August 29 following a series of negotiations between legislators and the Newsom Administration. Following a brief informational hearing on Monday, August 31, the compromise legislation failed passage when ...

Federal Update: Week of September 1, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
Manatt Minute – 8.28.2026 The House is scheduled to return on Monday, August 31. Congress: FY27 Appropriations: On Tuesday, September 1, the House is scheduled to vote on the Senate-passed continuing resolution (CR) under suspension of the rules, a procedure that allows for expedited passage and requires a two-thirds majority for passage. The CR includes language that would delay the implementation of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule through December 11, 2026, and provide a clean extension of surface transportation reauthorization through the same date. 21st Century ROAD to Housing Implementation: On September 9, ...

Grants Update: Week of September 1, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 4 days ago
Announcements The nest NSDA Lunch & Learn webinar is just 2 weeks away! Join them on September 9, 2026 , at 9am PST for Making the Case and Managing the Grant: From Board Buy-In to Post-Award . Many districts face organizational barriers to grants, including limited staff capacity and difficulty securing board support. This session will cover how to make the internal case for a grants program, set realistic expectations for staff time, and understand the requirements of post-award management. Register here ! New Grant Opportunities Corporation for National and Community Service FY 2027 AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer ...

CSDA Neutral on Legislative Response to Wildfire Liability Proposal

By Kyle Packham posted 6 days ago
CSDA has adopted a Neutral position on SB 492 (Becker) , the wildfire utility liability legislation introduced early Saturday, August 29, 2026 following negotiations that extended late Friday between legislative leadership and the Newsom Administration. The measure is joint authored by Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Chair Cottie Petrie-Norris. Before SB 492 can receive its final vote to pass out of the Legislature, the State Constitution mandates it must be in print for at least 72 hours. Given the bill includes an urgency clause requiring a two-thirds vote it may be taken up after the Legislature’s scheduled August 31 end of session. Therefore, ...

Evolving Legacy: District Programs Staying Relevant Over Generations

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
By @Morgan Leskody For many special districts, long standing programs are a point of pride. They reflect decades of service, community connection, and institutional knowledge. But longevity alone does not guarantee continued relevance. As communities shift, technologies advance, and expectations around access and inclusion grow, even the most beloved programs must evolve to meet the moment. Across California, districts are reimagining what it means to sustain a successful program over time. Rather than starting from scratch, they are building on strong foundations, layering in new approaches that expand reach, improve accessibility, and invite broader ...

Grants Update: Week of August 24, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
Announcements The next NSDA Lunch & Learn webinar is just 3 weeks away! Join NSDA on September 9, 2026, at 9am PST for Making the Case and Managing the Grant: From Board Buy-In to Post-Award. Many districts face organizational barriers to grants, including limited staff capacity and difficulty securing board support. This session will cover how to make the internal case for a grants program, set realistic expectations for staff time, and understand the requirements of post-award management. Register here ! New Grant Opportunities Department of Agriculture FY 2026 Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFP) WHAT ...

Final Call: 2027 Legislative Proposal Submissions

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti The deadline for 2027 Legislative Proposal submissions is approaching. Districts may submit ideas to create or improve laws affecting all special districts statewide regardless of geographic region or type(s) of service provided. Submissions will be reviewed by CSDA staff and assessed for political implications, potential consequences, cost of implementation, likelihood of success, and other relevant factors. Proposals will then be presented to the CSDA Legislative Committee for consideration. CSDA members are invited to submit a proposal by September 2 for CSDA to consider sponsoring legislation in the 2027 legislative ...

September 16 Webinar Offers Practical Insight into Expansive CARB ACF ZEV Mandate

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
By: @Brittney Barsotti On Wednesday, September 16, CSDA will host a webinar called “2026 Update to CARB ACF ZEV Regulation – What’s New?” The webinar, which will take place from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, is free for CSDA members and $125 for non-members. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation affects all state and local government vehicle fleets, including vehicles owned, operated, and contracted by special districts. On July 30, 2026, CARB published the final draft of their changes to the ACF regulations. Agencies are on the clock to begin transitioning medium and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). ...

Comment Opportunity: Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Advances Phased Approach to Zone Zero Compliance

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti On Wednesday, August 19, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection held a hearing to adopt emergency findings and final regulatory rules for the Zone Zero “Ember-Resistant Zone .” The Board also considered draft guidance on establishing and maintaining defensible space in Zones 0, 1, and 2. Zone Zero encompasses the first five feet surrounding occupied buildings and structures located within state responsibility areas and very high fire hazard severity zones designated by local agencies. This includes areas around structures and outbuildings, as well as attached decks, stairs, and the spaces beneath attached decks and stair ...

CSDA Advocates to Protect Local Wildfire Recovery Funds

By Morgan Leskody posted 12 days ago
By: @Anthony Tannehill CSDA is advocating to protect special districts’ ability to fully recover for wildfire damage from investor-owned utilities as the Governor has proposed that such liability be limited. CSDA’s advocates have been speaking to the administration, legislators, key legislative staff and working closely with aligned stakeholders. Additionally, CSDA has issued a public statement , and reinforced its message of rejecting privatizing profits while socializing costs in venues such as interviews with Sacramento radio station KFBK. While the proposal may contain some provisions that are advantageous to special districts and the people ...

Wildfire Liability Reforms Must Not Burden Californians With Recovery Costs

By Kristin Withrow posted 16 days ago
All comments can be attributed to Neil McCormick, CEO, California Special Districts Association Anticipated legislation to shift risk from for-profit, investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs) and place that burden on publicly-owned, non for profit local agencies – and their constituents – only makes it more difficult for communities to rebuild and fails to put victims first. While the Governor’s office has yet to unveil formal language, communication from the Administration has made it clear a proposal framework exists and will be introduced before the end of this legislative session. Despite claims that it holds for-profit IOUs accountable, CSDA is concerned ...

Where History Lives and Community Gathers

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
By @Morgan Leskody In the high desert north of Los Angeles, the Antelope Valley Cemetery District serves a purpose that extends far beyond its original mandate. While its core mission remains providing dignified and affordable burial services, the district has quietly evolved into something more: a place where community identity is preserved, shared, and continually renewed. “In many ways, the cemetery is the history book of the community,” says District Manager Linda “Lin” Blanco. And like any good history book, it does more than document the past. It helps people understand their place in the present. That role is increasingly important in today’s ...

What is a Clean Truck Check?

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
This article was submitted for publication by the California Air Resources Board Clean Truck Check helps ensure that vehicles’ emissions control systems are properly functioning when operating in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards. The program applies to nearly all non-gasoline powered heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 lbs. that operate on California public roads and highways, including government-owned vehicles. What are the Compliance Requirements for Clean Truck Check? Vehicle owners need to take three steps to comply with Clean Truck Check : report, pay the annual ...

Grants Update: Week of August 17, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
New Grant Opportunities Department of Agriculture FY 2026 Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program: Community Tree Resource Utilization WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to advance solutions to the economic, health, and environmental challenges faced by communities, with a focus on advancing Community Tree Resource Utilization, which can reduce waste and create value by turning wood generated from pruning, removals, storm events, and pest or disease outbreaks into useful products. Click here for more information. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, any ...

Closing Soon: Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program Grant

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
By: @Lilia Hernandez Two weeks ago the State Parks sponsored virtual workshops overviewing the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program grant . Established in 2014, the ORLP program is a federally funded National Park Service’s (NPS) Land and Water Conservation fund involving a competitive layer of reviewal processes that are first completed by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) , then the state, and finally NPS before applicants can compete nationwide. Approximately $50-$120 million is available in the program, granting between $300 thousand - $15 million per applicant’s requested ...

New California AI Cyber Defense Program

By Morgan Leskody posted 18 days ago
By: @Lilia Hernandez On Monday, August 10, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new executive order as an immediate operational directive for implementation of an AI cyber defense program in California. This order builds upon Executive Order N-12-23, requiring state agencies to evaluate the threats and potential use cases of emerging technology. The Newsom administration later expanded the framework by issuing Executive Order N-5-26 earlier this year, mandating that agencies review state AI procurement structures and supply chain issues. The recent order directs state agencies to establish an AI cyber defense program, strengthen cybersecurity ...