2022 Campaign Plans
- We will continue to work in a multi-sector coalitionto secure state funding for sustainable and climate-smart farming technologies, energy-efficient and permanent farmworker housing, healthy school food and senior nutrition programs, and much more.
- We will ensure that farmers and ranchers have access to resources to mitigate catastrophic wildfireby using managed grazing and prescribed burning that reduce fire fuel loads.
- We will double down on efforts to make it easier for limited-resource and small farmers to get grants through California’s Healthy Soils Program.
- We will share the lessons learned in California and support campaigns to win healthy soils policies in other states and nationally, and collaborate on mobilizing for the 2023 Farm Bill which will center climate change.
CalCAN’s 2021 Bills Positions
The CalCAN coalition is supporting the following bills with comment letters, testifying at legislative committee hearings and keeping you updated in our blog and newsletter.
AB 125 (Asm. R. Rivas) – Proposes placing The Equitable Economic Recovery, Healthy Food Access, Climate Resilient Farms and Worker Protection Bond on the 2022 ballot. The bond will invest $3.302 billion over five years to accelerate California’s economic recovery from the COVID- 19 pandemic while combating climate change, improving food security, and protecting our essential farmworkers. CalCAN is co-sponsoring this bill with 14 other agriculture, environmental, food security and environmental justice organizations. Bill will be reconsidered in 2022.
AB 284 (Asm. R. Rivas) – Establishes a climate goal for the state’s natural and working lands for 2045. It would also identify practices, policy incentives and tracking methods and other needs to achieve this goal. Bill was killed in the Senate.
AB 252 (Asm. R. Rivas) – Establishes a new grant program for state Groundwater Sustainability Agencies or counties to develop and implement programs that facilitate the adoption of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). These projects could include planting cover crops, converting irrigated agriculture to rangeland, and dryland farming – all of which have soil health and carbon storage benefits. Bill did not pass, but was partially achieved through budget bills.
AB 350 (Asm. Villapudua) – Establishes a technical assistance (TA) grant program to support farmers and landowners in critically overdrafted basins in the San Joaquin Valley to reach water-use reduction foals. At least 25% of these funds would be used to provide targeted TA for farmers of color. Bill stalled and will be reconsidered next year.
AB 1395 (Asm. Muratsuchi) — Establishes the carbon neutrality goal for the state in statute and requires the goal be primarily reached through GHG emissions reductions. Also sets up guardrails on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and includes natural and working lands climate strategies. Bill stalled and will be reconsidered next year.
AB 118 (Asm. Kamlager) – Establishes a pilot grant program called the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems (C.R.I.S.E.S.) program to make grants for community organizations that support responses to local emergencies such as community violence, public health crises and climate disasters. Bill passed and has been signed by the Governor.
AB 221 (Asm. Santiago) –Provides emergency food assistance to low-income Californians struggling financially due to COVID-19, regardless of legal status. Bill died.
SB 464 (Sen. Hurtado) – Makes a noncitizen applicant eligible for the California Food Assistance Program if they satisfy eligibility criteria for the CalFresh Program, except for any requirements that are related to immigration status. This bill did not pass, but was partially achieved through budget bills.
SB 332 (Sen. Dodd) –Limits liability for certified burn bosses and private land owners when performing, supervising or overseeing prescribed burns properly, that could support expanded use of this wildfire mitigation practice. Bill passed and has been signed by the Governor.
AB 1103 (Asm. Dahle) — Authorizes counties to establish a Livestock Pass Program to facilitate access by producers to their animals during or following a flood, storm, fire, earthquake, or other disaster. Access would be limited to those needing to protect the wellbeing of their livestock. Bill passed and has been signed by the Governor.
AB 642 (Asm. Friedman) — Addresses numerous institutional barriers (e.g. training, permits, employee retention, etc.) to scaling up cultural and prescribed burns as a wildfire mitigation strategy. This bill also requires CalFIRE to update and improve wildfire severity maps. Bill passed and has been signed by the Governor.
AB 941 (Asm. Bennett) — Establishes a grant program for counties to create farmworker resource centers that provide farmworkers and their families information and access to services related to education, housing, payroll and wage rights, and health and human services. Bill passed and has been signed by the Governor.
AB 897 (Asm. Mullin) — Would direct the Governor’s Office of Planning & Research to facilitate the creation of regional climate networks and create standards for regional climate adaptation action plans. Bill died.
