CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

January 6, 2025

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Legislature Reconvenes Today for 2025-26 Legislative Session
After briefly meeting on Dec. 2 for an organizational session, lawmakers reconvened in Sacramento today to kick off the 2025-26 Legislative Session in earnest.

One decision made by legislators last month could significantly shape the two years to come: lawmakers in bothchambers agreed to limit themselves to 35 bills each over this two-year session, down from a prior limit of 50 bills per legislator. In the 2023-24 Session, legislators introduced more than 4,820 bills – a number which would be impossible to reach under the new rules. As a result, CCA staff will have fewer bills to track over the next two years and can better focus on the Association’s top legislative priorities. Additionally, the move decreases the likelihood that legislators will introduce frivolous bills like those sometimes sought by radical environmental and animal rights lobbying groups.

Ahead of Session, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) last month announced his leadership team and the membership of the Assembly’s standing committees, with Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) following suit on Friday. Leadership remains stable among the standing committees most frequently lobbied by CCA – for instance, Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and Asm. Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) retain the chairmanships of their chambers’ respective Agriculture Committees – though there have been some notable changes. For example, Sen. Monque Limón (D-Santa Barbara), who last session authored pro-grazing legislation, will now helm the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, and Asm. Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) has been elevated to the chairmanship of the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.

This week also marks the deadline for Governor Gavin Newsom to release his Proposed Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. While the Governor previewed some of his top-line Budget numbers during a press conference in Stanislaus County today, his detailed Proposed Budget will not be released until Friday, when his Department of Finance is scheduled to provide an in-depth briefing (Gov. Newsom will be out-of-state for former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral).

CCA will provide initial Budget reaction in next week’s California Cattleman Weekly and in the February edition of the California Cattleman magazine. Stay tuned to California Cattleman Weekly for regular updates regarding CCA’s 2025-26 legislative priorities.

Corporate Transparency Act Remains Enjoined, Despite Holiday Drama
As California Cattleman Weekly reported early last month, a Dec. 3 decision by a federal judge in Texas had prevented the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) from enforcing provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The development was a welcome one for ranchers, as the CTA – which had initially been slated to take effect on Jan. 1 – would have required many farms and ranches with 20 or fewer employees to begin filing “beneficial ownership information” with FinCEN.

Today, that nationwide injunction remains in effect and FinCEN is prohibited from enforcing the CTA and its beneficial ownership information rule – but a frenzy of activity over the holidays created a great deal of uncertainty regarding potential enforcement of the Act.

First, on Dec. 23, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals initially overturned the injunction in response to an appeal by the federal government. Subsequently, FinCEN announced its intent to begin enforcing the beneficial ownership information requirement effective Monday, Jan. 13.

Fortunately, the Fifth Circuit changed course the day after Christmas, reinstating the injunction in an effort “to preserve the constitutional status quo while the [court] considers the parties’ weighty substantive arguments.” As a result, FinCEN is once again prohibited from enforcing the CTA and its beneficial ownership information filing requirement.

The Fifth Circuit has scheduled a hearing on the case for March 25, but in the meantime, the federal government has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to again overturn the injunction. Given the back-and-forth nature of these frequent legal developments, CCA’s national partner the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is urging “all cattle producers to consult with their attorney and/or tax professional for the latest information.”

Reminder: Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency Regarding Bird Flu
Governor Gavin Newsom last month proclaimed a state of emergency “to exist statewide due to Bird Flu.” A release from the Governor’s office states that “This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak.” To facilitate that flexibility and rapid response, the proclamation suspends various state laws governing agencies’ contracting obligations, equipment procurement procedures and employee work time. The release also notes that the state of emergency is intended to further extend California’s commitment to “protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information.”

CCA has been in regular contact with officials at the California Department of Food and Agriculture and will keep members apprised of the Bird Flu state of emergency and any impacts to beef cattle operations. To date, there have been no detections of Bird Flu in the state’s beef herd. 

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! Kicking off Season 5 of the podcast, CCA’s 52nd President Rick Roberti joins host CCA Director of Communications Katie Roberti. Tune in to learn about Rick’s background, how he became involved on the officer team, and much more. To listen, clickhere.

New Acres: Careers in Agriculture Offering to CCA Members Free Job Listings Through the End of April 2025
New Acres, a platform created to connect others in the agriculture industry and list agricultural careers is offering free access to CCA members to list jobs on their platform through the end of April 2025. To learn more about New Acres, and their mission to help those in the industry and find a career, click here. In order to post a job listing an account must be created with a login and password. To create an account and post a job, click here.

NCBA Launches New World Screwworm Resources
From the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has launched a web page dedicated to sharing information on the New World screwworm, an emerging cattle health threat. The page will be updated frequently as new information becomes available. To view the page, click here.

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Industry News

California begins 2025 with solid start to winter snowpack, but more storms are needed Associated Press “California is beginning 2025 with a solid start to the winter snowpack, officials said Thursday, but they cautioned that more storms are needed to keep the state’s water supplies on track.” To continue reading, click here.

Biden to create two new California national monuments protecting tribal lands Los Angeles Times “The efforts have not been without criticism, however. Biden’s upcoming actions could upset groups who want to use the Chuckwalla monument area for mining and off-roading and those who want to use the Sáttítla area for geothermal energy, mining and timber. He will also be frustrating conservatives who believe that presidents have abused their authority in creating monuments.” To continue reading, click here.

Near-complete ban on agricultural burning finally takes effect in San Joaquin Valley Los Angeles Times “Starting this week, San Joaquin Valley farmers are banned from burning agricultural waste in the field, a legislative mandate aimed at improving air quality that has been decades in the making.” To continue reading, click here.

Gray Wolves now call Tulare County home as species pushes south in California Visalia Times Delta “Gray wolves are alive and well in Tulare County. The population of gray wolves has increased in the county, state, and country in recent years because of the legal protections of the Endangered Species Act, which reversed a decline that began centuries ago.” To continue reading, click here.