By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Before the Feb. 16 deadline, 2,124 new bills were introduced — 1,505 in the Assembly and 619 in the Senate. With campaigns ramping up during this election year, incumbents are more inclined to introduce legislation that aligns with their constituents’ priorities.
Of the newly introduced legislation, some agricultural bills have a defined link between the bill authors and their primary campaign contributors.
Democratic Assemblymember (AD-31) Joaquin Arambula introduced AB 2240 to open migratory farmworker housing year-round. Farmworker housing complexes under the California Department of Housing and Community Development would be open permanently, and the requirement that farmworkers live outside a 50-mile radius of the centers for at least three months to be eligible would be eliminated.
According to the Sacramento Bee, HCD officials expressed concern that opening the centers to all farmworkers would increase competition between migrants and those permanently living in California.
Arambula is up for re-election this year and currently has one opponent — Republican college student Solomon Verduzco.
Roughly 20% of Arambula’s campaign funding comes from the labor sector with $944,250 since he was elected. The Fresno assemblymember was endorsed by United Farm Workers of America and the California Labor Federation in February.
Another labor bill introduced by Democratic Senator (SD-18) Steve Padilla — SB 1105 — addresses paid sick leave for agricultural workers. If passed, the bill would allow farmworkers to utilize sick leave to avoid weather conditions such as smoke, heat, or flooding created by a local or state emergency.
According to a press release, Padilla attributes hazardous weather conditions to climate change and explains that using sick days during these conditions will avoid negative health outcomes later on.
“California farmworkers are the very lifeblood of our society, working in conditions few dare face to put food on the table for not only their families, but families across the world,” Padilla said in the release. “Climate change now threatens their health more than ever before. We must do everything we can to adapt our policies to ensure their wellbeing is protected.”
Twenty-two percent of Padilla’s campaign funding came from the labor sector with $215,050 compared to just over $14,000 from the broad agricultural sector. Padilla’s term expires in 2026.
Conversely, Republican Assemblymember (AD-03) James Gallagher has taken at least $511,000 from the agriculture sector since he was elected, representing 10% of his total campaign contributions. Gallagher is up for re-election this year against Democratic opponent Aaron Draper.
Gallagher introduced AB 3056 to address the “unintended consequences” of an agricultural overtime law. The bill would reverse the acts of AB 1066 which was passed in 2016 and required farmworkers to receive overtime pay after 40 hours in a week.
According to a press release, this approach “failed to recognize the distinct nature of agriculture work, characterized by its seasonal aspects, reliance on natural factors, and handling or perishable goods.”
AB 3056 would adjust agricultural overtime requirements to a 50-hour work week.
