Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
As the legislative recess comes to a close on Aug. 14, several bills pertaining to the agricultural industry will be considered—including the long-awaited 2023 Farm Bill.
LABOR
In Feb. Democratic Assemblymember Ash Kalra introduced AB 636, which would require agriculture employers to pay for travel time from housing to work sites. The Senate will consider the bill on Aug. 14.
Another forthcoming labor bill will hold a hearing on Aug. 16 with the Assembly Appropriations Committee to discuss the prohibition of political discussions in the workplace. Senate Bill 399, introduced by Democratic Senator Aisha Wahab, would prohibit an employer from speaking on religion or political matters, including unionization. The California Chamber of Commerce listed SB 399 as a “job killer” and a violation of the First Amendment.
WATER
Several pieces of legislation on agricultural water usage will be considered after Aug. 14, including Assembly Bill 754, represented by Democratic Assemblymember Diane Papan. The bill on water management planning would require agricultural water users to develop a drought plan to describe the user’s preparedness and water management. AB 754 passed the Assembly Committee and will circulate to the Senate floor on Aug. 21.
Another assembly bill was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee in May to add additional groundwater regulations to the existing Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Represented by Democratic Assemblymember Lori Wilson, AB 779 would require Groundwater Sustainability Agencies to recruit officials from the Department of Water Resources of the State Water Board to review adjudication agreements. The Senate hearing will take place on Aug. 21.
FEDERAL
In May, U.S. Representatives Dale Strong and Abigail Spanberger introduced a bipartisan bill to prohibit the purchase of agricultural land within the U.S. to individuals within the Chinese Communist Party or other foreign adversaries. A press release from Spanberger’s office explained that it would require accurate reporting pertaining to foreign land ownership. The bill was sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in March.
FARM BILL
The 2023 Farm Bill is set to expire on September 30 and the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1, giving legislators a short time span to hear amendments from various parties and officially instate the multiyear law.
According to U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, the anticipated legislation may see a deadline extension as there is currently no draft for the new legislation.
If a new farm bill is not passed by 2024, commodity programs would regress to 1949 commodity support law requirements, Agri-Pulse explained. Farm policy in its entirety would revert to former legislation such as parity pricing, marketing quotas, and acreage allotments.
