Assembly Bill 2954 proposes a pathway for including natural and working lands in the next Scoping Plan for California’s AB 32 climate goals. Groups for sustainable farming support the bill, while several business and ag groups oppose the measure.
According to the Appropriations Committee, the bill passed muster for its potential fiscal impact on the state. The Legislative Analysts' Office found the costs for the Air Resources Board to implement AB 2954 would be “minor and absorbable.”
Yet farm groups have pointed out the state would need to somehow allocate more funding for incentives programs before asking “land stewards to do even more than they're already doing.”
The committee also heard a measure on allowing wineries to fill growlers. With no opposition to the bill, Committee Chair Lorena Gonzalez declared “Everybody here likes wine,” and then passed the measure.
