Several Thousand New Bills Introduced in California Legislature

A total of 2,710 new bills were introduced in the California legislature between when it reconvened on January 7 and the new bill introduction deadline of February 22. The legislature is now holding policy hearings regarding the bills with an end of April deadline for fiscal bills to be submitted to appropriations, and a May 3rd deadline for non-fiscal bills to be reported to the legislative floor. CLFP is currently tracking some 186 bills that could affect California’s food processing industry and is working with a variety of industry coalitions to address these bills.

These bills involve a wide range of industry issues including: labor and employment with bills that could expand employer mandates and bills regarding workforce development; energy, including requirements that could raise rates; toxic issues related to the green chemistry initiative; solid waste/recycling mandates; wildfires; and water.

CLFP has been following the Dynamex issue with the recent court decision that changed the criteria of what constitutes an independent contractor. One way this issue could affect the food processing industry concerns independent truckers. Learn more about Dynamex and other labor issues being addressed in this legislative session in the feature column by Benjamin Ebbink, Fisher Phillips, in this edition of the CLFP Insider.

Paid family leave and sick days are hot topic issues. Governor Gavin Newsom advocated for paid parental leave in his first state of the union address in February. A big question is who will have the burden of paying for such leave.

During the last California legislative session, the #MeToo movement resulted in a flurry of bills related to sexual harassment. Some of these bills have been reintroduced along with new bills relating to this issue.

CLFP is also closely following bills relate to wildfire issues, although there is currently not a clear vision about what might happen regarding this issue, in part due to PG&E’s recent bankruptcy filing. A concern for food processors is how increasing energy costs associated with the fires and other issues might be passed along to rate payers. Last year’s Senate Bill 901, which allocated funds related to the Napa fires, also created a Blue Ribbon Commission on wildfire safety that will four public meetings throughout the state in the coming months.

Several bills have been introduced that could affect beverage companies, including those involving recycling – trying to get plastics out of the market – and sugar sweetened beverages.

CLFP is tracking bills related to green chemistry, which could potentially affect food packaging, and wants to encourage that products and chemicals undergo vigorous scientific protocols before being banned or replaced with alternatives.

Various bills involving water have been introduced. CLFP is supportive some of these bills including those regarding underground storage of beneficial use. A number of bills have been introduced regarding drinking water.

CLFP’s Legislative Affairs committee holds bi-monthly conference calls. If you are a CLFP member and would like to part of this committee, contact Trudi Hughes.