LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN

September 18, 2023

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CCA Staffer Appointed to 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee
On Tuesday the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) announced the membership of the agency’s 2023-2024 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee (“30×30” is shorthand for the State’s effort to conserve 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030). Members of the Coordinating Committee are selected by CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot, and the Committee is chaired by CNRA Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat Jennifer Norris (who sat down with CCA’s Sorting Pen podcast earlier this year).

Among the 17 individuals selected for this year’s 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee is CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Kirk Wilbur.

The Coordinating Committee does not decide state 30×30 policy or implementation, but rather exists “to enable effective communication and coordination among all groups that participate in the 30×30 Partnership.” This coordination can enable the state and stakeholder to “leverage funding and other resources, maximize opportunities to expand and improve conservation, and build capacity of local and regional groups to meet their conservation objectives.”

CCA will join with the other members of the 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee during the 30×30 Partnership 2023 Gathering in Riverside October 11 & 12.

CCA looks forward to representing cattle ranchers who steward much of the state’s 38 million acres of rangeland on the 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee. Contact Kirk Wilbur in the CCA office with any comments, questions, or other feedback.
 
2023 Legislative Year Comes to a Close
California’s 2023 legislative year gaveled to a close late Thursday evening. The Legislature is now on Interim Recess until January 3, 2024, at which point legislators will take up many “two-year bills” shelved in the first year of the two-year Legislative Session and will file hundreds of new legislative proposals.

Governor Gavin Newsom has until October 14 to sign or veto any bills which survived both houses of the Legislature this year.

As previously reported in Legislative Bulletin and CCA’s other publications, the Association had an incredibly successful year staving off a trio of bills which would have fundamentally undermined California’s water rights administration and one proposal that would have opened ranchers to baseless legal challenges from radical animal rights organizations.

CCA will provide a full run-down of the Association’s legislative efforts in the November edition of California Cattleman, after Governor Newsom has taken final action on bills advanced to his desk.

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast 
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! In this episode Katie sits down with Dr. Ken Tate, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Rangeland Management and Dr. Tina Saitone, UC Davis Professor of Extension in Livestock and Rangeland Economics to talk about the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program through the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. To listen to the episode click here.

2023 CCA + CCW Convention Sponsorship Opportunities and Exhibitor Registration Open
Sponsorship opportunities for the 107th CCA + CCW Annual Convention and Industry Tradeshow are now available. CCA has multiple items available to sponsor at this year’s event. Sponsorships are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, reserve your spot now! To view the sponsorship packet click here and for further information click here.

Exhibitor registration is now open for the 2023 California Cattle Industry Tradeshow held in conjunction with the Convention. To learn more about the details and rules of exhibiting at this year’s tradeshow download the Exhibitor Agreement and Registration Packet. Booth’s can be reserved online or by submitting the packet via mail, email or fax. For further information, click here.

Apply to Be a 2023 CCA Convention Intern 
Internship applications are open for the 2023 CCA/CCW Convention happening Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nev. Selected interns will help run CCA’s tradeshow booth, onsite registration and other behind the scenes tasks at the event, they will also get to attend select meetings of interest, general sessions and the tradeshow with complimentary lodging and registration. Additionally, the interns will get to interact with CCA leadership and staff, as well as industry leaders at the best attended meeting of the year. For further information and to apply, click here.

2023 CCA Scholarship Applications Now Available 
Applications for the 2023 CCA Scholarships are being accepted now through October 1, 2023. CCA awarded $59,000 in scholarships to students studying agriculture, although scholarship amounts and quantities vary year to year. Current CCA members (producer, feeder or YCC) that are currently enrolled at a university or college are eligible to apply. Past recipients of her CCA scholarship program may also apply again this year. For a complete list of awards and to download the application visit calcattlemen.org/scholarships. Contact Maureen in the CCA office at maureen@calcattlemen.org with any questions.

Upcoming CCA Events

Upcoming Industry Events

Industry News

California regulators propose higher rates for PG&E customers to reduce wildfire riskAssociated Press News“PG&E had asked for more revenue in part to pay for a plan to bury about 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers) of power lines to help prevent wildfires. Burying power lines is expensive and takes a long time to complete. But PG&E has argued it is the best way to essentially eliminate the risk of strong winds knocking down power lines and starting wildfires.” To continue reading, click here.

Recovering from wildfire disaster, with cattle ranching leading the way Napa Valley Register “In the northern part of the Napa Valley, in the shadow of Mount St. Helena, a survival story is unfolding at Oak Ridge Angus Ranch. The 1,100-acre cattle ranch, in the heart of Knights Valley, is recovering after catastrophic devastation during the 2019 Kincade Fire.” To continue reading, click here.

Wildfire watch: Forest fuel mapping and drones represent the next wave of firefighting Sierra Sun “Technology is furthering innovation in wildland firefighting across the west, including the Tahoe Basin — and not just in the process of extinguishing flames but in prevention of these catastrophic burns.” To continue reading, click here.