By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice
Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to veto or sign into law hundreds of bills passed by the California Legislature. Since Sept. 6, the governor has signed 46 bills into law and vetoed eight, with the last legislative update from Newsom’s office on Sept. 14.
Several legislative pieces under consideration have far-reaching implications for Central Valley agriculture from employer rights to pesticide restrictions.
AGRICULTURE ADVOCACY
Senate Bill 399, authored by Democratic Senator Aisha Wahab, would restrict agricultural employers from communicating topics such as unionization and political matters — including those that directly impact the agricultural industry — to their employees.
Currently, employers are granted the right to express opinions on political topics as long as they do not subject employees to coercion or retaliation. According to the California Farm Bureau, SB 399 threatens employers with lawsuits for educating employees on legislative, regulatory, or political matters.
“SB 399 would even subject someone to abusive lawsuits for educating employees about the kinds of exploitative and deceptive union signature-gathering practices the United Farm Workers have used to try to unionize agricultural employees that have attracted objections from employees of Wonderful Nurseries,” the California Farm Bureau said.
The bill is argued by opponents to violate the First Amendment because it limits employers’ freedom of speech on certain topics. The Farm Bureau is urging members and concerned individuals to request that Gov. Newsom veto SB 399.
AB 2436
One bill, supported by the California Cattlemen’s Association, California Farm Bureau, and Western United Dairies, was signed into law on Sept. 6.
Assembly Bill 2436, authored by Republican Assemblymember Juan Alanis, increases various cattle inspection fees per head of cattle from $1.50 to $1.60, with certain exceptions, including an increase re-inspection fee of $0.70 per head cattle to $0.80 per head of cattle, and increases the inspection of carcasses with the hide on and off hide fees from $2 to $2.10 for each carcass or hide that is inspected.
According to Alanis, the bill is meant to safeguard cattle producers as the California Bureau of Livestock Identification’s operating expenses have increased due to electric vehicle regulations and other economic pressures.
“Recently, inflationary pressures, the transition to an electric vehicle fleet in furtherance of the state’s climate goals, and other economic pressures have increased the California Bureau of Livestock’s operating expenses,” Alanis said in a May press release. “AB 2436 allows the Bureau to adjust fees responsibly, ensuring that they can continue to protect our livestock producers without imposing undue financial burden.”
PESKY PESTICIDE BILLS
Several bills pertaining to pesticide usage and restrictions are being considered including a contentious item on paraquat dichloride — commonly used to treat almonds, pistachios, pomegranates, grapes, and other crops. AB 1963, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Laura Friedman, initially proposed banning the use of paraquat completely, prohibiting the use, manufacture, sale, delivery, holding, or offering for sale in commerce of any pesticide product containing paraquat. This provision failed to pass the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Currently, Friedman’s bill would require DPR to complete a formal scientific reevaluation of paraquat before Jan. 1, 2029, and to make the determination to retain, cancel, or suspend its registration or place new restrictions on the use of pesticide products containing the active ingredient.
Several agricultural organizations have opposed the bill including the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association, Western Growers Association, Ag Council, as well as various other industry leaders.
The bill was presented to Gov. Newsom on Sept. 11 and awaits a final determination.
Another pesticide bill authored by Friedman — AB 2552 — was sent to the governor’s desk and proposes to expand the existing prohibition on the use of anticoagulant rodenticides to include the use of the first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides chlorophacinone and warfarin. The bill would also impose civil penalties on the unlawful use of both first-generation and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides.
