Policy Staff Provide Farm Bureau Members Update on Suspense File Items
Published Friday, May 22, 2026
California Farm Bureau reviewed key outcomes from the Legislature’s Suspense File hearings, a fiscal hearing in which bills meet an early fate or clear the hurdle to the floor.
In the Assembly, several high-profile bills impacting agriculture also advanced out of the Suspense process. Assembly Bill 2646 by Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, which would increase minimum wage requirements for certain agricultural employees, passed with minor amendments and now moves to the Assembly floor. Assembly Bill 2494 by Chris Rogers, D-Santa Rosa, related to demonstration forests and timber harvest restrictions, was amended to restore forest funding tied to timber harvest activities, though California Farm Bureau continues to review remaining concerns. Assembly Bill 1603 by Nick Schultz, D-Burbank, related to PFAS—widely known as “forever chemicals”—in pesticides, will also head to the Assembly floor.
Farm Bureau's priority bill, Assembly Bill 1585 by Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, focused on truth in wine labeling, also advanced out of committee. Additionally, Assembly Bill 2447 by Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, the Nitrogen Pollution Reduction Act, was held under submission and is fortunately considered dead for the year.
In the Senate, Senate Bill 1135 by Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, which would establish a Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Fund, passed unamended and now moves to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 872 by Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, related to delta levee and California Aqueduct repairs, advanced following amendments removing specific funding amounts and requiring the development of a spending plan. Senate Bill 1305 by Laura Richardson, D-Inglewood, related to wildlife and bears, also advanced after being amended to make implementation contingent upon a legislative appropriation and requiring the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to contract with outside specialists. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1097 by Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, which proposed a California Environmental Quality Act exemption for certain large-scale renewable energy transmission projects, was held under submission and is considered dead for the year.
Staff contact: Peter Ansel, pansel@cfbf.com.
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