Assembly Agriculture Committee Advances AB 1156 Despite Concerns Over Farmland Protections
AB 1156, authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D–Oakland), passed out of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture on a 6-1-1 vote. The bill repeals the Williamson Act cancellation payment requirement for solar use easements. Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez (R–Coachella) voted No, while Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D–Winters) abstained. Committee Chair Esmeralda Soria (D–Fresno) raised multiple concerns: the bill’s vague definitions could open the door to widespread contract cancellations without payment, it would expose prime farmland to solar development under the solar use easement, and it lacks a structured community benefit investment from solar developers. Chair Soria is requiring amendments to address these issues. The Large-scale Solar Association and Almond Alliance supported the bill, while California Farm Bureau led the opposition.
Assemblymembers Juan Alanis (R–Modesto) and Heather Hadwick (R–Jackson) spoke in favor of the bill, citing landowner rights—though this reflects a common misconception. Participation in the Williamson Act and its cancellation has always been voluntary. AB 1156 does not enhance landowner rights; it merely waives the contractual obligation to pay a cancellation fee.
Assemblymembers Damon Connolly (D–Marin) and Rhodesia Ransom (D–Stockton) also voted in favor but expressed concern that the bill is too broad. Ransom proposed an idea to redirect cancellation payments toward community benefits instead of the state’s general fund.
American Farmland Trust and similar organizations opposed the bill for its potential to allow cancellation of agricultural conservation easements in favor of solar easements—a likely target for future amendment. The Rural County Representatives of California shifted to a support position after negotiating with the author. Farm Bureau remains opposed unless amended. Staff Contact: Peter Ansel; pansel@cfbf.com
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