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LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN

October 24, 2022

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Department of Insurance Requires Rate Discounts for Wildfire Risk Reduction
The California Department of Insurance has finalized regulations which require insurance providers to offer lower rates to property owners who take action to mitigate the risks of wildfire damaging their property. The regulation also requires insurers to provide policyholders with their “wildfire risk score or other wildfire risk classification” and to give policyholders an opportunity to appeal their classification.

According to a press release from Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, “The regulation requires insurance companies to submit new rates that recognize the benefit of safety measures such as upgraded roofs and windows, defensible space, and community-wide programs.”

Unfortunately, the regulation will not shield policyholders from potential non-renewal or cancelation of existing policies. Rather, the regulation is intended to make wildfire insurance coverage more affordable for property owners and to incentivize adoption of wildfire risk reduction practices.

Under the regulation, insurers have 180 days – or until April 12, 2023 – to file rating plans for policyholders who undertake specified wildfire risk reduction practices and to develop a written procedure for disclosing policyholders’ wildfire risk scores.

SWRCB Updates Curtailments on Multiple Watersheds
As of last Thursday, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has imposed a watershed-wide curtailment of water rights on the Sacramento River watershed with a priority date of 1927 or later including water rights associated with the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. In addition to this watershed-wide curtailment, the Cache Creek has been further curtailed with a priority date of 1859 or later. The SWRCB has suspended curtailments for appropriative water rights on the Yuba River subwatershed with a priority date between 1927 and 1960 and on the Putah Creek subwatershed with a priority date of between 1927 and 1947, meaning that those water rights are not currently curtailed. Post-1960 water rights on the Yuba River subwatershed and post-1947 water rights on the Putah Creek subwatershed remain curtailed, however.

Appropriative water rights have been curtailed within the San Joaquin River watershed with a priority date of 1919 or later and within the Legal Delta with a priority date of 1927 or later. Further curtailments have been imposed on the Stanislaus River for water rights with a priority date of 1897 or later, along with the Fresno River subwatershed for water rights with a priority date of 1855 or later. Curtailments remain on the Tuolumne River for water rights with a priority date of 1914 or later, on the Merced River subwatershed for water rights with a priority date of 1859 or later and on the Mokelumne River subwatershed with a priority date of 1890 or later. Additionally, all appropriative and riparian water rights have been curtailed in both the Calaveras River and the Chowchilla River subwatersheds.

Mill Creek and Deer Creek watershed diverters were required to cease or reduce diversions to maintain the drought minimum flow of 50 cubic feet per second and to submit an online Compliance Certification Form by October 15. If you have not yet submitted the Compliance Certification forms, use the login credentials provided on the curtailment order you received in the mail and submit that information through the Water Rights Form and Survey Submittal Portal.

For questions about curtailment and suspension notices or assistance completing the Compliance Certification forms, please contact the Rancher Technical Assistance Program at (916) 409-6902 or rtap@wrstrat.com.

New episode of Stories from California Cattle Country 
Stories from California Cattle Country, “Bert Lamb & Camarillo Farm” is out now. To listen to the episode, click here. Stories from California Cattle Countryis produced by The California Cattlemen’s Foundation with support from the California Cattle Council. If you want a glimpse into our travels, follow the podcast’s Instagram account @calcattlecountry

National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) Beef Industry Scholarship Applications Now Available for Undergraduate Students
Applications for the 2023-2024 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship are now being accepted. Sponsored by the CME Group the scholarship recognizes students who play a crucial role in the future of food production. To be eligible applications must be a graduating high school senior or full-time undergraduate student enrolled at a two or four-year institution.  The deadline to apply is Nov. 11, 2022 at midnight Central Time. For further information on the scholarship and to apply click here.

Upcoming CCA Events

106th Annual CCA & CCW Convention
Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, Nugget Casino Resort, Sparks, Nev.
The 2022 CCA/CCW Convention is headed back to the Nugget Casino Reno and will be held in conjunction with the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association’s Annual Convention. Attendee and exhibitor registration for the event are now open! Register, reserve your room in CCA’s room block and get more information at https://calcattlemen.org/convention2022. Click the links below for more resources related to the event.
Reserve Your Tradeshow Booth Now | Sponsorship Opportunities  | Book Your Room in CCA’s Block

Participate in the 2022 Cattlemen’s Poster Session 
Participate in the 2022 Cattlemen’s Poster Session at the 106th Annual CCA/CCW Convention and California Cattle Industry Trade Show in Reno happening Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. The goal of the session is to inform attendees about the ongoing beef cattle research and education efforts being conducted in California. Posters can be on something that was presented at previous meetings and there is no limit to the number of posters brought from each lab/program. Click here for full details on how to reserve a place for your poster by Nov. 4.

Upcoming Industry Events

Stockmanship & Stewardship Event 
November 1, 2022, Virtual
Stockmanship & Stewardship will host a virtual education event providing live coverage of low-stress cattle handling and industry updates. Learn of consumer concerns on beef sustainability and livestock welfare, their impacts on the industry and receive hands on training to improve their operation. For more information click here. To register for the event click here.

Chico State University Farm 60th Anniversary Celebration
November 5, 2022

Come and join Chico State University Farm to celebrate their 60th anniversary! There will be an open house, farm tours, President and Dean’s Reception, dinner and dancing. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here. To view the agenda click here

California Natural Resources Agency Virtual Expo Series 
October 25 – November 17, Virtual 
The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting a virtual expo to build on the 30×30 Partnership Kick-Off Event. Hear from partners across state agencies, learn about program funding and other outlets to reach California’s 30×30 goal. Q&A sessions will be available at the end of each Virtual Expo. For more information regarding the event, click here

Tuesday October 25, 3-3:30pm – California Department of Food and Agriculture (register here). 

Thursday October 27, 10:30-11am – Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Board (register here). 

Tuesday November 1, 3-3:30pm – Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Tahoe Conservancy (register here). 

Thursday November 3, 10:30-11am – CA Nature Team (register here).

Tuesday November 8, 3-3:30pm – California Biodiversity Network and California’s 5th Climate Assessment Team (register here). 

Thursday November 10, 10:30-11am – California Department of Fish and Wildlife (register here).

Tuesday November 15, 3-3:30pm – Ocean Protection Council and State Costal Conservancy (register here). 

Thursday November 17, 10:30-11am – Baldwin Hills Conservancy and California Conservation Corps (register here). 

Industry News

Sites reservoir project receives $30 million Capital Press “The federal government this week awarded the Sites Project Authority, responsible for building a new reservoir in California, with $30 million to move the reservoir closer to construction.” To continue reading, click here.

NCBA is pushing for a third-way test for WOTUS RFD TV “While farmers wait for the nation’s highest court to rule on Sackett vs. EPA, the NCBA says there might be another way to resolve the long-running dispute over Waters of the U.S.” To Continue reading, click here.

Midterm elections could impact federal farm and food policy RFD TV “With the midterm elections less than one month away, analysts say there are many different scenarios that could impact federal farm and food policy. One agriculture and food services expert notes, for many in Congress, this will be their first Farm Bill.” To continue reading, click here.

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Earlier this month Cal Poly’s 66th Annual Bull Test Sale was held in San Luis Obispo. The program is the only one in the country completely ran by students! To talk about what this program provides students, share about the new opportunities coming to the it through a grant that was just awarded and have a few laughs, Cal Poly’s Zach McFarlane and Aaron Lazanoff come on the podcast. Click here to listen.

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