Both bills sponsored by CCOF were passed out of the California Assembly Agriculture Committee at the hearing on April 27th.
AB 1870, which is authored by Assemblymember Mark Stone, was voted out with 10 ayes, 0 noes. This bill supports California food processors by streamlining the registration process and creating more transparency in the Department of Public Health’s oversight of organic processors. No one has registered opposition to AB 1870.
AB 2499, which is authored by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, was voted out with 8 ayes, 0 noes. This bill creates an Organic Transition Program to provide underserved farmers financial and technical assistance to transition to organic. It also requires a statewide market analysis to help current and future farmers understand the market landscape. Maria Narez of Narez Organic Vegetables and CCOF Policy Director, Rebekah Weber, provided testimony in support. No one has registered opposition to AB 2499.