Governor Newsom Signs CCA-Sponsored Bills

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Last night, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he had signed two CCA-sponsored bills, Assembly Bill 2415 (Lackey) and Senate Bill 880 (Laird), into law.

CCA applauds Governor Newsom for signing these common-sense provisions and supporting California’s cattle ranching community.

CCA-sponsored SB 880, authored by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), permanently reauthorizes University of California Cooperative Extension water measurement instructional courses which enable ranchers who divert more than 100 acre-feet per year to self-certify as “qualified individuals” for purposes of installing and maintaining their own water measurement devices. These courses allow water diverters to avoid thousands of dollars in costs associated with hiring professional engineers and contractors and have resulted in improved water quantity data reported to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).

As former Secretary of California’s Natural Resources Agency, Sen. Laird understands the benefits of cattle ranchers’ land and water stewardship as well as the regulatory burdens placed upon the state’s cattlemen. CCA thanks Sen. Laird for authoring SB 880 and ensuring that water rights holders and the SWRCB continue to enjoy the benefits these courses provide. CCA also thanks Assemblyman Frank Bigelow, whose AB 589 (2017) first authorized the UCCE courses. Asm. Bigelow co-authored this year’s SB 880 and helped to shepherd the bill through the Assembly upon its passage in the Senate.

CCA extends our thanks, too, to Senator Laird’s hardworking staff and the UCCE advisors who have assured the success of these vital training courses.

CCA-sponsored AB 2415, authored by Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), extends by three years – until January 1, 2026 – the agricultural vehicle exemption to the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program. That exemption was initially secured by a 2016 bill also authored by Asm. Lackey, AB 1960. The BIT program would subject agricultural producers to costly, invasive and time-consuming inspections despite the shining safety record of California’s agricultural fleet. AB 2415 continues to exempt California’s agricultural producers from these burdens, and CCA will work in the coming years to further extend this exemption.

A 28-year veteran of CHP, Asm. Lackey’s reputation and agency expertise were critical to ensuring the success of AB 2415. CCA thanks Asm. Lackey and his stellar staff for shepherding AB 2415 through the Legislature this year, and for their continued support of the livestock industry.

Finally, CCA thanks you, our members, for your enduring support and for encouraging your representatives in the California Legislature to support AB 2415 and SB 880!

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The California Cattlemen’s Association is a non-profit trade association that represents California’s ranchers and beef producers in legislative and regulatory affairs.