AGRICULTURE

• AB 113, Committee on Budget. Agricultural labor relations. This budget trailer bill enacts changes to the collective bargaining process for agricultural workers. An act to amend Sections 1149.3, 1160.3, 1164, 1164.3, and 1164.5 of, to amend, repeal, and add Sections 1142, 1156, 1156.5, and 1157 of, to add Section 1160.11 to, to repeal Sections 1156.35 and 1156.36 of, and to repeal and add Section 1156.37 of, the Labor Code, relating to employment, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

• AB 363, Bauer-Kahan. Pesticides: neonicotinoids for nonagricultural use: reevaluation: control measures. Prohibits, beginning January 1, 2025, the sale, possession, or use of a pesticide containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides, as defined, for any nonagricultural use on nonproduction outdoor or ornamental plants, trees, or turf, except by state certified applicators and state licensed pest control dealers. Requires the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) to evaluate the potential impacts of neonicotinoid pesticide uses on pollinating insects, aquatic ecosystems, and human health, as specified. An act to amend Section 12838 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to pesticides.

• AB 402, Aguiar-Curry. Weeds: Broomrape Program. This bill would establish the Broomrape Program (Program) within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for the purpose of funding research and control methods for the noxious weed Broomrape, as specified. An act to amend Section 221 of, and to add and repeal Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 7401) of Part 4 of Division 4 of, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to weeds, and making an appropriation therefor.

• AB 454, Aguiar-Curry. California Rice Commission: board membership: referendum. This bill authorizes the California Rice Commission (Commission) to review drought conditions in the state, evaluate the impact of these conditions on the production and handling of rice, and issue a drought declaration. The bill would allow a Commission member who is a rice producer or handler to continue serving on the Commission and vote to issue a declaration even if they did not handle or produce rice within the prior four years due to drought conditions. An act to amend Sections 71050 and 71135 of, and to add Section 71050.5 to, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to the California Rice Commission, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

• AB 652, Lee. Department of Pesticide Regulation Environmental Justice Advisory Committee. Establishes an Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJ Advisory Committee) to make recommendations for integrating environmental justice considerations into the Department of Pesticide Regulation's (DPR's) programs, policies, decision making, and activities. An act to add Section 11519 to the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

• AB 1016, Jones-Sawyer. Pest control operations: aircraft operations: private applicator. This bill would establish a private applicator designation under the unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate. The bill would require proof of the pilot's completion of a program accredited by the Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) as well as a valid private applicator certificate in order to be eligible for the unmanned pest control aircraft pilot's certificate under the status of private applicator. An act to amend Sections 11902, 11902.5, 11905, and 11907 of, and to add Section 11902.1 to, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to pest control.

• AB 1322, Friedman. Pesticides: second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide: diphacinone. Prohibits the use of the rodenticide diphacinone in wildlife habitat areas, as defined, and prohibits the use of diphacinone in the state until the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has completed a reevaluation and developed and adopted further restrictions on its use, as specified. Makes changes to existing restrictions on the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides consistent with those placed on diphacinone. An act to amend Section 12978.7 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to pesticides.

• AB 1399, Friedman. Veterinary medicine: veterinarian-client-patient relationship: telehealth. Expands the authority of a licensed veterinarian to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and practice veterinary medicine through the use of telehealth. An act to amend Sections 4067, 4825.1, 4829.5, 4853, 4857, and 4875.1 of, and to add Section 4826.6 to, the Business and Professions Code, and to amend Section 14401 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to veterinary medicine.

• AB 1583, Committee on Agriculture. California Seed Law: subventions: sunset extension. This bill extends the California Seed Law subvention program to July 1, 2027, with all provisions relating to the subvention program repealed on January 1, 2031. An act to amend Sections 52323, 52324, and 52325 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to food and agriculture, and making an appropriation therefor.

• AB 1752, Committee on Agriculture. Bees: pesticides: civil penalties. The bill would authorize a county agricultural commissioner (CAC), in lieu of a civil prosecution by the secretary of the California Department of Agriculture (CDFA), to levy a civil penalty, up to $3,000, against a person violating regulations related to minimize the hazard to bees, while still providing for the reasonable and necessary application of pesticides toxic to bees to blossoming plants, as specified. An act to amend Sections 12999.5, 29304, and 29311 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to bees.

• AB 1763, Committee on Agriculture. Food and agriculture: industry-funded standardization program: Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995: Noxious Weed Management Account. This bill eliminates the January 1, 2025 repeal date of the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Fruit, Nuts, and Vegetable Standardization Program; makes changes to the Technical Assistance program for the CDFA's climate smart agricultural programs to increase funding amounts for technical assistance; and makes changes to the weed abatement program to waive local cost-share when feasible in order to help rural and/or disadvantaged communities who may not be able to apply for weed abatement funding due to costs associated with it. An act to amend Sections 570, 7272, and 7272.5 of, and to repeal Section 42815 of, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to food and agriculture.

• SB 701, Hurtado. Fruit and vegetable wholesalers: registration fees. This bill makes changes to the authority for a board of supervisors to impose a registration requirement and annual fee schedule on fruit and vegetable wholesalers. An act to amend Sections 43061 and 43062 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to agriculture.

• SB 780, Alvarado-Gil. Department of Food and Agriculture: oversight: commercial feed, feed additives, and drugs. This bill establishes the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) as the primary regulatory agency to oversee any commercial feed, feed additive, or drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fed to livestock. An act to add Section 14902.1 to the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to food and agriculture.

• SB 831, Caballero. Agricultural workers: immigration: parole. This bill authorizes the Governor to enter into an agreement with the United States Attorney General (USGA) to establish a program for the USGA to grant an agricultural employee parole. Requires the Governor to prepare a report on the impact of the program on the 3rd year of the renewal of the program. An act to add Article 9 (commencing with Section 12092) to Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to agricultural workers.