10/13/2021
PRESS RELEASE: Gallagher Wraps up Successful Legislative Session, Passes Bills to Help Locals
SACRAMENTO –Assemblyman Gallagher (R-Yuba City) today announced the final actions on his legislation for the 2021 legislative session. In all, Assemblyman Gallagher successfully passed five bills, including legislation to help Paradise recover from the 2018 Camp Fire, and legislation to help provide safe and affordable drinking water for the City of Willows.
AB 36 will aid the Paradise recovery by fast tracking construction of the Paradise Irrigation District (PID) water intertie and the Paradise sewer project. Specifically, the legislation authorizes the use of design-build, a cost effective contracting method that can prevent project delays while providing more flexibility for these projects.
“AB 36 helps ensure that as the town rebuilds, it rebuilds better and more resilient to natural disasters than before by facilitating critical projects that modernize the town’s infrastructure,” said Gallagher.
AB 379, which restores the natural and cultural right of Native American Tribes to be stewards of conservation land, was also approved by the Governor. The bill adds tribes to the list of entities the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Wildlife Conservation Board may enter into agreements with for conservation purposes. The legislation will help the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria partner with Chico State to steward property currently managed by Chico State.
The Governor also signed Gallagher’s AB 850, which extends the sunset date on a pilot program to encourage the voluntary consolidation of small municipal water systems to improve water services for Californians. The City of Willows, whose drinking water supply has naturally occurring Chromium VI, plans on utilizing this pilot program and supported Gallagher’s legislation.
“It is critical that residents feel confident in their drinking water supply, especially in drought years, and AB 850 will help facilitate access to safe, clean and affordable drinking water for the City of Willows,” said Gallagher.
In addition to AB 36, AB 379 and AB 850, the Governor signed:
· AB 232 (Gallagher) – This bill requires residents of Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and any other state that require California residents to purchase OHV permits in their state, to obtain a California out-of-state OHV permit before they could legally operate their vehicle in California. Reciprocity is a two-way street. AB 232 will make sure states that rescind OHV reciprocity do not benefit from California’s reciprocity law. Not only is this fair, but it encourage other states to keep their reciprocity laws in place.
· AB 1079 (Gallagher)- This bill, sponsored by the California Lawyers Association, clarifies which beneficiaries under a revocable trust are owed duties by the trustee in the event the settlor or other person holding the power to revoke the trust is deemed incompetent. The bill passed the Assembly and Senate with unanimous support
Gallagher also spearheaded ACR 27 to continue the “Farm-to-Fork Corridor” into the North State by designating additional portions of SR 99 as part of the Corridor. Originally established by Gallagher in 2019, the Corridor recognizes the people of the North State who dedicate their lives to provide high quality agricultural commodities for California and the United States, and helps introduce people to the area where their food is grown. Gallagher also passed ACR 19 to name the portions of Highways 20 and 70 running through the city of Marysville as part of the “Purple Heart Trail.” This symbolic trail runs throughout all 50 states to commemorate and honor all men and women who have given their lives in combat while serving in the U.S. armed forces.
