Williamson Act Bill Revived, Farm Bureau Prepares Opposition
Published Friday, June 5, 2026
After spending the past six months on the Assembly Inactive File, Assembly Bill 1156 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, has returned to active status and has been sent to the state Senate for further consideration.
The bill is expected to undergo a complete "gut and amend" in the Senate. Based on current discussions, the new proposal would allow the cancellation of Williamson Act contracts for certain large-scale projects valued at more than $100 million if the secretary of Natural Resources determines the project is necessary to help the state achieve its climate goals. Critically, the proposal would remove local government authority from these cancellation decisions, undermining one of the core protections of the Williamson Act.
California Farm Bureau strongly opposes this anticipated approach. Allowing state officials to override local governments and terminate Williamson Act contracts for favored development projects sets a troubling precedent and threatens the long-term viability of working agricultural lands.
Once the amendment language is formally released, Farm Bureau expects to issue a FARMTEAM Alert and urges members to engage in opposition to the proposal.
Staff contact: Peter Ansel, pansel@cfbf.com.
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