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Brenda Bass joined the California Chamber of Commerce on January 24, 2022 as a policy advocate specializing in water supply and storage issues. She came to the CalChamber policy team from the Sacramento office of Downey Brand, where she was a senior associate. She advised public agency and private clients on environmental review requirements, as well as applying for and complying with water quality permits. She has experience with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) litigation and groundwater quality issues for agricultural and water clients throughout California. She also advised clients on Clean Water Act matters, compliance with state and federal laws governing stormwater and wastewater quality, as well as assisted agricultural enterprises with rapidly changing irrigation discharge regulations. Before joining Downey Brand, Bass practiced at a California boutique environmental firm. She also externed for a federal bankruptcy judge in Sacramento. Bass earned a B.A. in linguistics at the University of California, Davis, and a J.D. with distinction from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, where she was primary editor of the McGeorge Law Review.

Anti-Business Legislation Stalls for Year

Five California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bills have missed key deadlines and are dead for the year. In addition, a bill that the CalChamber had...

Analysis Shows Delta Conveyance Project Benefits for Water Reliability, Economy Far Outweigh Cost

The state’s cost-benefit analysis of the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) shows the project is a net benefit for Californians. In a recent report, the California...

CalChamber-Backed Bills Target Retail Crime

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas was joined by state legislators, CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera, and California Retailers Association President and CEO Rachel Michelin...

CalChamber, Coalition Support Healthy Rivers & Landscapes Update to Water Plan

The California Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of statewide organizations has asked the State Water Resources Control Board to support a novel approach...

Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Focus Retail Theft Policy on Prevention, Enforcement, Supervision

The California Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of business, local government and public safety organizations sent a joint letter to the Governor and...

Delta Conveyance Project: CalChamber, Multiple Groups Voice Support

A project critical to protecting the water supply for millions of Californians reached a major milestone on December 8 when the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) released the final environmental report on the Governor’s Delta Conveyance Project.

Report Summarizes California’s Water Year, Urges Better Water Management

“Californians are being asked to strike a strange balance between being prepared for both biblical droughts and unprecedented deluges. The happy medium—never a common experience for the state—is shrinking,” states Letitia Grenier, director of the PPIC Water Policy Center.

State Water Board Moves Ahead on Draft Plan to Stabilize Water Supply

The State Water Resources Control Board recently took the newest steps in managing water supply and water quality in the Delta region. On September 28,...

Governor Signs CalChamber-Supported Bills

Legislation to strengthen the state’s drought resilience is among the California Chamber of Commerce-supported bills signed recently by Governor Gavin Newsom. AB 30 (Ward; D-San...

CalChamber, Coalition Join Forces to Stop, Improve Major Water Rights Legislation

After strong opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce and a broad coalition of public and private water agencies and users, legislative committees this...

Bills Threaten to Destabilize State’s Water Rights System

Four bills that threaten to destabilize California’s water rights system and revoke rights upon which communities have relied for decades are moving in the...

Executive Action Directs Storm Flows to Recharge Groundwater

California’s recent storms have pounded the state, quickly moving the state from extreme drought to flood conditions. Since January, California has seen repeated flooding...

Governor Issues Order to Increase Water Held in Reservoirs

Last month, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order intended to allow officials to hold more water in reservoirs. The order updates an earlier...

After 3 Weeks of Storms, What’s State Water Outlook?

Following a barrage of storms at the end of December and beginning of January, California made a quick about-face from critically dry conditions to...

Coastal Commission Approves Project to Bring Reliable Water to Monterey

A multi-pronged effort to bring a reliable, sustainable water supply to the Monterey Peninsula was approved by the California Coastal Commission at the end...

Water Conveyance Project: Public Review Process Opens

The public review process has begun on the latest proposal to modernize the state’s water distribution system with a project to convey water through...

Continued Drought Leads to Delivery Cuts, More Funds for Drought Response

As California enters another year of drought conditions, water shortages will again take their toll on California residents and businesses. Recent estimates put the direct...