As California’s 2025-2026 legislative session draws to a close we’re excited to update you on the status of some key pieces of legislation that we’ve been following. We’re happy to report that we’ve already secured key victories, have helped block harmful bills, and are actively driving forward legislation that will transform our food and farming systems!
Bills we oppose:
SB 1419
SB 1419 undermined the original intent of the Farmer Equity Act of 2017, which focused on improving socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher’s (SDFR) access and outreach to state programs, given that SDFRs continue to receive less government support, face greater language barriers, greater unfamiliarity with government assistance programs, and lower income generation relative to white farmer counterparts. A socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher is defined as someone who is a member of a group subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity, without regard to individual qualities. It’s imperative that we continue to center the historical inequities endured by SDFRs and honor this history with efforts to support their success and meaningful participation.
Status: Pulled by the author (a win!)
SB 1370
SB 1370 would exempt broadly-defined wildfire mitigation projects from nearly all statutes, rules, regulations, and requirements of any agency within CA Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) or California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). This exemption applies to pesticide laws, enabling widespread applications (some projects are up to 3,000 acres) of harmful herbicides, such as carcinogenic glyphosate (RoundupTM). Under SB 1370, projects are not required to be economical or effective, with recent research demonstrating that certain methods of fire mitigation have proven ineffective or harmful to the landscape by increasing the flammability of landscapes through invasion of non-native, more flammable grasses. We must protect our landscapes from the unnecessary application of harmful pesticides.
Status: In Senate Appropriations
Bills we support:
AB 52
AB 52 would authorize the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to formally establish two advisory committees: the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Producer Advisory Committee and the Small-Scale Producer Advisory Committee, to advise the California Department of Food and Agriculture under the Farmer Equity Act of 2017. The BIPOC Producer Advisory Committee has made significant progress towards implementing the Farmer Equity Act of 2017, including developing a formal Block Grant recommendations framework and BIPOC Accountability Subcommittee for CDFA’s block grant administration processes, providing input and increasing transparency around CDFA’s grant administration approach, instituting an anonymous grower-based feedback system, advocating for dedicated Tribal consultation, and raising the need for clearer, diverse communication channels and application assistance. Codifying these committees in statute affirms their importance and ensures their continued role in shaping equitable agricultural policy.
Status: In Senate Appropriations on suspense file. Pursuant to legislative rules, bills are referred to the Appropriations Suspense File if their estimated fiscal impact exceeds established financial thresholds.
AB 53
AB 53 authorizes federally recognized tribes to receive grants and loans through the California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program and the Inland Wetlands Conservation Program. AB 53 also enables the Department of Fish and Wildlife to enter into management agreements with tribes for department-managed lands. A systematic literature review conducted by Nikolakis et al. (2026), reported that Indigenous lands delivered positive conservation outcomes in British Columbia, often at levels comparable to or exceeding those of state-managed protected areas. It’s critical that we support Indigenous stewardship and land return, as many tribes employ land management practices that support biodiversity, soil health, carbon storage, climate resiliency, land sovereignty, and the reinstatement of pest predator-prey relationships that can eliminate reliance on pesticides.
Status: In Senate Appropriations
