ADVOCACY REPORT
Turning Points: A Shifting Tone in Sacramento Presents Opportunities for Ag
California’s policy landscape is shifting. While the state remains deeply progressive, we see a more moderated approach on key issues impacting agriculture and the state as a whole. Even among those elected and appointed officials who have long championed strict regulatory measures, there is a growing recognition that certain policies need to be reevaluated to achieve real, sustainable progress. This shift presents opportunities. The Newsom Administration continues to support Sites Reservoir and other ag friendly water projects, such as groundwater recharge, signaling an understanding that long-term water security is essential to the state’s economic and environmental future. At the same time, the California Air Resources Board is reassessing some of its most ambitious climate mandates, opening the door for more balanced discussions about the feasibility of regulatory goals. On an important issue to Blue Diamond , Governor Newsom recently pulled back a regulation mandating the recyclability and composability of food packaging to reduce costs. We welcome the recognition of this need to ensure affordability in the regulatory process given industry projections for the cost of this regulation may skyrocket into millions of dollars. The governor and his office acknowledge these challenges and have temporarily pulled back the regulation to make it more affordable. Ag Council remains engaged at every level of the regulatory process on this critical issue. In the state legislature, we are pleased to see policymakers reexamining the state’s permitting process, recognizing that excessive red tape has stalled critical infrastructure projects, including those that benefit agriculture, as well as urban, suburban and rural communities.
A report released in March by the Select Committee on Permitting Reform highlights the need for updating these processes, creating an opportunity for long overdue improvements. The report resulted in a package of housing bills now moving through the state legislature to reduce uncertainty, speed up project timelines, and cut costs by standardizing permitting processes and removing mandates for builders, such as impact studies. Regarding water, the report identifies water permit reform opportunities, such as eliminating uncertainty in the application process, enhancing interagency coordination and consistency, and developing specific permitting pathways for drought resilience and flood risk reduction projects. We look forward to supporting such efforts to boost water supply infrastructure. In another turning point, and for the first time in state history on the labor and workforce front, voters defeated an initiative at the ballot box last November to further increase the minimum wage—an effort in which Ag Council and its members played a leadership role during the election. Governor Newsom’s podcast launched earlier this year is another example of a shifting tone as it shows he is willing to engage in complex policy discussions with those who hold different perspectives and political views. These developments reflect a broader reality: the challenges agriculture has faced for decades—rising costs, regulatory complexity, and infrastructure needs—are gaining more attention from California policymakers. Issues once seen as sector specific are now being recognized as broader community and infrastructure development concerns that impact residents across California. Ag Council will continue working to ensure agriculture has a strong voice in these discussions. By staying engaged and finding common ground, we can help shape policies that balance the state’s diverse priorities.
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ALMOND FACTS
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