Bill Text: CA AB404 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 404

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Department of Food and Agriculture: reporting requirements: certified organic operations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2024-02-12 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. [AB404 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB404-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 404

Introduced by Assembly Member Connolly

February 02, 2023

An act to add and repeal Section 413 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to food and agriculture.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 404, as introduced, Connolly. Department of Food and Agriculture: reporting requirements: small and mid-scale farmers.

Existing law establishes the Department of Food and Agriculture and charges it with various duties and obligations.

This bill would require the department to evaluate duplicative reporting requirements that affect small and mid-scale farmers and farming operations, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2025, to submit a report to the Legislature, including suggestions to amend or remove unnecessary reporting requirements in order to relieve regulatory burdens on small and mid-scale farmers and farming operations. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2026.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 413 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

413.

(a) The department shall evaluate duplicative reporting requirements that affect small and mid-scale farmers and farming operations, including, but not limited to, reporting requirements related to the process of transitioning to organic farming and obtaining organic certification.

(b) On or before January 1, 2025, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature, including suggestions to amend or remove unnecessary reporting requirements in order to relieve regulatory burdens on small and mid-scale farmers and farming operations.

(c) The report submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.