A bill codifying Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to conserve 30% of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030 was pulled ahead of it first committee hearing and will not be heard for the remainder of the year.
“We have a responsibility to step up to preserve our biodiversity before the damage is too severe to reverse,” said Asm. Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego (above) in introducing the measure in February.
The California Farm Bureau led a coalition opposing the bill over concerns it would prohibit agencies from any actions that would fall outside of its stated goal. They worried this could disrupt voluntary agreements, pesticide applications and groundwater planning.
Asm. Ash Kalra, a joint author on the bill, led a similar measure last year that died in committee. Kalra also this week pulled a measure that would pay dairy and livestock producers to transition to plant-based commodities. Another provision in the bill would rank crops by water use and market demand.
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“The bill made false and disparaging remarks about the animal production industries and would have been impossible for the administration to implement,” according to the Farm Bureau.
Kalra promoted the measure as a way to equip farmers to play a greater role in combatting climate change through sustainable practices.
