SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The week of Feb. 21, Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) introduced a series of bills aimed at addressing key challenges facing rural communities. These proposals will ensure rural cities and counties receive the resources and support they need to serve their residents effectively by increasing funding for local programs, improving environmental safety, and providing counties with greater administrative flexibility.

AB 998: Allows consolidated reporting on highly hazardous waste items, such as vape cartridges.
This bill simplifies compliance for local agencies by allowing consolidated hazardous waste reporting, reducing administrative burdens while upholding safety standards.

AB 993: Increases rural funding for Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) cities.
In many parts of my district, hazmat response after an emergency can be hours away. This bill ensures rural “CUPA” cities receive their fair share of state funding to support essential emergency management and public health programs.

AB 870: Allows Alpine County to help administer a neighboring county’s local programs.
This bill allows one county to share state-mandated services with a neighboring one, which will ease financial burdens on areas with fewer resources.

AB 964: Allows local governments to keep state mandated reimbursement funds.                            
The state of California owes rural counties in AD-1 millions of dollars for mandated services. This measure allows cities and counties to keep funds which would otherwise need to be repaid if the State Commission on Mandates owes the county money. This bill aims to hold the state accountable.

“Our communities are drowning because of policies coming from Sacramento that hurt rural Californians. These bills provide much-needed solutions to improve efficiency, funding, and bridge the urban rural divide,” said Assemblywoman Hadwick. “This package is about fairness—ensuring that rural areas receive the same level of support and opportunity as big cities.”

The legislation is expected to undergo hearings in the state Assembly in the coming weeks. Track the progress of these bills here.

Assemblywoman Hadwick represents the 1st Assembly District, which includes portions of Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties, along with Alpine, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.