Blogs

House Committee to Mark Up Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Kyle Packham The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is scheduled to consider the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act ( H.R. 2766 ) on Wednesday, March 18. The bipartisan legislation, led by Pat Fallon (R-TX) and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), would establish the first formal definition of “special district” in federal law. The bill, which is the National Special Districts Association’s (NSDA) top federal legislative priority, would also direct the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue guidance to federal agencies clarifying that special districts should be recognized as local governments for purposes of ensuring ...

Federal Legislative Updates: Week of March 9, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
House and Senate Action House The House is not in session this week. House Republicans are spending the week in Doral, Florida, for their annual legislative retreat at Trump National Doral, where President Donald Trump is expected to address lawmakers and help shape the party’s agenda for the year ahead. The retreat will focus heavily on early discussions around a potential second budget reconciliation package. Lawmakers are also expected to discuss national security issues, including Iran, as well as legislative priorities such as the SAVE Act and broader election-related policies as House leadership works to align the conference on its legislative ...

Five Feet That Matter: A Look at Zone 0

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Ophelia Szigeti In October 2025, the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, in consultation with the State Fire Marshall, released proposed rulemaking language establishing Defensible Space Zone 0. The proposed rules would apply to structures located in a State Responsibility Area (SRA) or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone within a Local Responsibility Area (LRA). Zone 0 would create an ember-resistant area within five feet of a structure by requiring the removal of combustible materials to reduce the risk of ignition from wind-blown embers. Property owners can check whether their structure is in one of these areas by visiting CAL FIRE’s website ...

Initiative Limiting Ability of Voters to Raise Revenues Now Pending Signature Verification

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Kyle Packham On Monday, March 9, California’s Secretary of State confirmed receipt of 1,345,470 “raw count” signatures from county elections officials for Initiative 1983 (25-0006A1): LIMITS ABILITY OF VOTERS TO RAISE REVENUES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT . Proponents of Initiative 1983 (25-0006A1) submitted petition signatures February 25 with the intent to qualify the measure for the November 3, 2026 statewide ballot. County elections officials had eight business days from the date the petition was filed with their office to submit a raw count of signatures to the Secretary of State. The proposed state constitutional ...

CSDA Opposes Diversion of Local Revenues to CA High Speed Rail Authority

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
By: @Marcus Detwiler Last week, CSDA joined other local government stakeholders, including the California State Association of Counties, Urban Counties Caucus of California, Rural County Representatives of California, and League of California Cities in expressing opposition to certain tax revenue-related and utility-related issues discussed in reports by the CEO of the California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority) as well as the California High Speed Rail Authority’s draft 2026 Business Plan . In reports to the Authority last year, particularly within the August 2025 CEO Report in the “Legislative Support” section, Authority CEO Ian Choudri ...

Rural Health Transformation Program Memo Updates NSDA Members

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
@Kyle Packham In response to questions on the status of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program , the National Special Districts Association (NSDA) has issued a memo to members providing an overview of the one-time $50 billion effort to fund state-driven solutions to causes of poor health in rural America. States submitted applications by November 5, 2025, and CMS announced first-year awards on December 29, 2025. Funds are awarded as federal financial assistance to states (100 percent federal, no state match), and states then determine the specific subaward mechanisms and timing for distributing ...

NSDA Grants Update: Week of March 9, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 2 days ago
New Grant Opportunities Department of the Interior FY 2024-2025 WaterSMART Applied Science Grants WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to provide water management tools for increased access to information and improved modeling and forecasting capabilities to help avoid water conflicts and improve our ability to meet a variety of water management objectives. Click here for more information. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are states, tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, state, regional, or local authorities whose members include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority, and other organizations ...

Fire Department Rescues Horses from Frozen Pond in Missouri

By Kristin Withrow posted 3 days ago
In Missouri, January 26, 2026 two horses were rescued by Cuba Fire Protection District after crashing through an icy pond. According to the district’s Facebook page , the horses walked out onto the snow covered ice and became trapped. Fire personnel were able to break a path through the ice and lead the horses out of the water. A local veterinarian checked the horses and found them to be in good condition. The horses were taken to a dry barn to recover.

Army Corps Launches Streamlining Initiative

By Morgan Leskody posted 9 days ago
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently announced a major reform effort – “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” (BINP) –aimed at accelerating delivery of Civil Works projects and streamlining permitting processes nationwide. The initiative is designed to refocus USACE on its core water resources missions, prioritize high-impact infrastructure projects, and reduce or eliminate regulatory requirements and paperwork that delay project delivery. The plan includes 27 initiatives organized under five categories: maximizing infrastructure delivery, cutting red tape, improving efficiency, increasing transparency and accountability, and strengthening ...

HUD Proposes Optional Work Requirements and Term Limits for Housing Assistance

By Morgan Leskody posted 10 days ago
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has just released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would allow public housing authorities (PHAs) and landlords participating in federal rental assistance programs to establish work requirements and term limits for certain households. The proposal follows a recent HUD action related to eligibility standards for families with mixed immigration status. Under current law, a limited number of PHAs participating in HUD’s Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program have authority to test employment incentives and work-related policies. The new proposal would broaden that flexibility to most ...

Federal Legislative Update: Week of March 2, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 10 days ago
House and Senate Action Lawmakers return this week under the shadow of a rapidly escalating conflict with Iran. This debate is likely to dominate floor activity and messaging throughout the week. House The House will consider a handful of measures on the suspension calendar (requires 2/3 majority), including legislation (H.R. 4386) that would require the Interior Secretary to issue guidance clarifying that a single "America the Beautiful" Annual Pass admits two motorcycles into national parks. House GOP leaders also plan to bring the stalled FY 2026 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill back to the floor on Thursday. The renewed ...

Take Action Month Was the First Step…

By Morgan Leskody posted 10 days ago
By: @Kyle Packham Take Action Month concludes as we continue analyzing the hundreds of new bills introduced in February. In the coming weeks, State Legislators will be making critical decisions that could affect funding and impact how special districts deliver essential services to our communities. What we started with Take Action Month — providing the tools you need to make your district an even stronger voice in your community — is only the beginning. Now is when the real work begins to put those tools, resources and strategies into play. Where to begin? Here is your Take Action Checklist: Take our 30-second Grassroots Mobilization Survey ...

Inform DWR on Climate Bond Grant Funding by March 6

By Morgan Leskody posted 10 days ago
By: @Aaron Avery The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is soliciting input on its Watershed Resilience Program and funding under Proposition 4, the $10 billion Climate Bond passed by voters in 2024. Interested special districts should complete DWR’s SURVEY by the deadline of March 6, 2026. Specifically, the Watershed Resilience Program will combine funding from Proposition 4 Sections 91019 (for projects that increase water conservation in agricultural and urban areas) and 91031 (for projects related to integrated regional water management to improve climate resilience on a watershed basis) into one grant program. After removal of state ...

CSDA Co-Sponsors “Common Cents” Cash Transactions Bill

By Morgan Leskody posted 10 days ago
By: @Aaron Avery On February 20, CSDA’s Legislative Committee adopted a Co-Sponsor position on Senate Bill 1005 (Caballero) Local agency: payment: rounding amount . SB 1005 was introduced in response to the decision of the United States Mint to suspend production of pennies as cash currency. According to the Mint, the decision was influenced by the rising cost of producing the penny, which has increased to 3.69 cents per penny. The phase out of pennies is reportedly already leading to shortages of pennies . Local agencies continue to accept and make cash payments for a variety of transactions, leading to concerns about the unavailability of pennies. ...

Public Law Update – Court of Appeal Upholds Order Compelling Public Agency Board Member to Return Confidential Reports

By Morgan Leskody posted 10 days ago
By Kevin D. Siegel, Partner, Burke, Williams & Sorensen Santa Clara Valley Water District v. Eisenberg concerns confidential reports, prepared by the Water District’s outside counsel, regarding investigations of complaints of alleged misconduct relative to interactions between Board Member Rebecca Eisenberg (who is also a practicing attorney) and Water District staff. Eisenberg was permitted to review the confidential reports, but not to retain them. Nonetheless, she took the reports and refused to return them to the Water District, even after the censure by the very Board on which she serves. The Water District filed suit in Santa Clara County Superior ...

Grants Update: Week of March 2, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 10 days ago
New Grant Opportunities National Fish and Wildlife Foundation FY 2026 Five Star Program WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. Click here for more information. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Based on anticipated funding availability, ...

Firefighter Saves Deer Trapped on Frozen Lake with a Tight Hug

By Kristin Withrow posted 12 days ago
One firefighter lay on the ice and hugged the deer as they were pulled to safety This article was originally published by Shyla Watson for People.com on February 6, 2026 including an adorable video of the rescue. We encourage you to visit the original article to watch! Remember that scene from Bambi where he gets trapped on the ice? For one deer in Washington, that moment went from fiction to fact. On Tuesday, January 27, firefighters rescued a deer on Loon Lake in Stevens County. Local resident Daniel Poleschook told Storyful that he saw the animal struggling to stand on the frozen lake, so he contacted the Stevens County Fire Department ...

The New Northland Public Library (PA)

By Kristin Withrow posted 15 days ago
Now that the extensive renovation is complete, library patrons are unanimous in their approval. This article was originally published by Samantha Schroeppel in The Uproar on January 20, 2026. (Photo: D. Crickets) A year of construction and $4.1 million later, the Northland Public Library has officially reopened its doors. Although initially a project designed to address structural issues within the lower-level entrance, the renovation evolved to completely transform the library’s atmosphere and enhance its service to the local community. “The New Northland continues to serve our mission and to position the library as a third space for the communities ...

Federal Legislative Update: Week of February 23, 2026

By Morgan Leskody posted 16 days ago
House and Senate Action After a one-week break for the President's Day holiday, both chambers return to work this week. However, a winter storm on the East Coast has disrupted the congressional schedule. Votes are now postponed until Tuesday. The State of the Union address is still scheduled for Tuesday night. House The House will consider a handful of measures on the suspension calendar (requires 2/3 majority), including bipartisan legislation (H.R. 390) that would direct NASA to deploy advanced drone and airspace-management technology to improve coordination between manned and unmanned aircraft and strengthen aerial wildfire response, especially ...

Comment Period Open on Proposed Cal/OSHA “Walkaround Rule”

By Morgan Leskody posted 16 days ago
By: @Aaron Avery The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), better known as Cal/OSHA, has opened public comment on a proposed rulemaking concerning a “Walkaround Rule.” The proposed regulation would define and specify procedures for who is a representative authorized by employees who shall be given an opportunity to accompany a Cal/OSHA representative during the inspection of any workplace (quite literally “walking around” with the inspector). Under the proposed regulation, the representative(s) authorized by employees may be an employee of the employer, a third party, or the collective bargaining representative, as specified. According ...