In several email dumps over the three-day weekend, Gov. Newsom checked off many of the bills that have been sitting on his desk since the Legislature convened last month. The governor has until Saturday to decide on the lingering legislation.
Among the bills he signed:
A ban on backyard neonics. In his signing statement, Newsom reasoned AB 363 is in line with “proposed federal direction for certain neonicotinoid applications to be made by non-professional applicators.” He also said it follows DPR’s process for evaluating neonics. But the statement does not account for late amendments that changed it from a study bill to a ban.
Corporate climate accountability. As promised, Newsom signed two measures putting more pressure on large companies to disclose their climate impacts. He lauded the bills for “once again demonstrating California's continued leadership with bold responses to the climate crisis.”
But the governor was uncomfortable with incorporating Scope 3 emissions into supply chain reporting under SB 253. He called the deadlines likely infeasible and worried about inconsistent reporting.
He directed agencies to work with the Legislature on a cleanup bill for both measures. He had concerns over the financial impacts to businesses and instructed the Air Resources Board to “closely monitor” the issue.
CalChamber, which led the opposition to the bills, was disappointed with Newsom’s signatures but looked forward to working on cleanup legislation, arguing the tools for SB 253 “must be cost-effective and useful.”
Water rights. SB 389 initially would have expanded the state water board’s authority with senior rights. Subsequent amendments significantly watered down the legislation to simply clarify the board’s role with pre-1914 rights, dropping agricultural opposition.
In August Newsom’s Department of Finance opposed the measure. Among the concerns, the agency found the bill could further raise fees on stakeholders to cover the costs.
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Ban on food ingredients. Newsom gave the green light to a bill dubbed a Skittles ban by opponents, since it targeted five ingredients commonly found in candy, sodas and baked goods. The bill dropped titanium dioxide from the list to curry enough votes to pass. Newsom dismissed the Skittles claims, arguing the candy is sold in the European Union, which has already banned the ingredients.
The National Confectioners Association shot back that Newsom and lawmakers are “once again making decisions based on soundbites rather than science.” The food manufacturers raised alarms over complying with “a patchwork of inconsistent state requirements.”
Easing drone pesticide training. Newsom approved a California Farm Bureau bill to streamline the licensing and training processes for farmers who use drones for pesticide applications. CAFB President Jamie Johansson thanked Newsom and said it will help growers save on crop protection costs and better protect workers.
