Webinar: Agribusiness Legislative Update

The Agribusiness Committee of the California Lawyers Association’s Business Law Section hosted an informative Webinar on October 18, 2022 entitled Agribusiness Legislative Update. The Committee, and guests, heard from some of agriculture’s top advocates on legal and legislative developments affecting agriculture over the past year.

Dennis Albiani of California Advocates provided an overview and discussion of legislation that will impact agribusiness in the arenas of energy and packaging. Mr. Albiani highlighted Senate Bill 54 which establishes a program for single use packaging. He also highlighted the Governor’s Climate Package and other Assembly and Senate bills related to California’s energy production and effort to become carbon neutral.

California Farm Bureau’s Danny Merkley briefed the committee on bills that would impact water use and availability for agriculture throughout California. He updated the Committee on a couple Sustainable Groundwater Management Act related bills (AB 2201, SB 1372), and other bills that involve water storage infrastructure (AB 1164) and California’s water rights permitting process (AB 2639).

Louie Brown, a Partner at Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, introduced the Committee to several bills affecting labor in the agriculture setting. He discussed bills that would alter paid sick-leave related to Covid-19 (AB 152), union elections (AB 2183), the use of cannabis by employees (AB 2188), and other issues impacting labor in the agriculture and agribusiness industry.

Annalee Akin of California Advocates updated the Committee on business legislation impacting agribusiness. Specifically, she briefed the Committee on the Buy American Food Act (SB 490) and various budget provisions related to agribusiness.

Committee members and guests had an opportunity for a question-and-answer session with the presenters. In all, the webinar was very informative and highlighted more than a dozen bills that will impact agriculture and agribusiness. The Committee is grateful for the expert presenters, and the opportunity to learn from some of California’s most influential agriculture and agribusiness minds.

The Committee intends to host similar webinars in the future. If you are interested in future webinars, you can explore opportunities to join the Agribusiness Committee.