(1)Existing law requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests, as specified. Existing law requires the secretary to establish the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee, and requires the committee to make recommendations to the secretary regarding vertebrate pest control research each year. Existing law requires each county agricultural commissioner to pay a specified fee to the secretary based on the amount of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied by the county, as specified. Existing law creates the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, and continuously appropriates the moneys in the account to the secretary for specified purposes. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.

This bill would extend the operation of those provisions until January 1, 2035. By extending the secretarys authority to expend moneys in a continuously appropriated account, the bill would make an appropriation.

(2)Existing law prohibits the administration of medically important antimicrobial drugs to livestock unless ordered by a licensed veterinarian through a prescription or veterinary feed directive pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, as specified.

This bill would revise and recast that provision to instead prohibit the administration of medically important antimicrobial drugs to livestock unless it is ordered by a licensed veterinarian through a prescription or veterinary feed directive that complies with federal and state law, require prescriptions for labeled uses of medically important antimicrobial drugs to be issued pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, and require veterinary feed directives and prescriptions for extralabel uses of medically important antimicrobial drugs to be issued pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, as specified.

(3)Existing law regulates the operation of certified mobile farmers markets, as defined, and requires an operator of a certified mobile farmers market to annually register with the Department of Food and Agriculture.

This bill would authorize enforcing officers to inspect places, conveyances, documentation, products, containers, and equipment pertaining to certified mobile farmers markets and would authorize enforcing officers to seize and hold as evidence certain materials to secure the conviction of a party, as specified.

(1)Existing law requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests, as specified. Existing law requires the secretary to establish the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee, and requires the committee to make recommendations to the secretary regarding vertebrate pest control research each year. Existing law requires each county agricultural commissioner to pay a specified fee to the secretary based on the amount of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied by the county, as specified. Existing law creates the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, and continuously appropriates the moneys in the account to the secretary for specified purposes. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.

This bill would extend the operation of those provisions until January 1, 2035. By extending the secretarys authority to expend moneys in a continuously appropriated account, the bill would make an appropriation.

(2)Existing law prohibits the administration of medically important antimicrobial drugs to livestock unless ordered by a licensed veterinarian through a prescription or veterinary feed directive pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, as specified.

This bill would revise and recast that provision to instead prohibit the administration of medically important antimicrobial drugs to livestock unless it is ordered by a licensed veterinarian through a prescription or veterinary feed directive that complies with federal and state law, require prescriptions for labeled uses of medically important antimicrobial drugs to be issued pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, and require veterinary feed directives and prescriptions for extralabel uses of medically important antimicrobial drugs to be issued pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, as specified.

(3)Existing law regulates the operation of certified mobile farmers markets, as defined, and requires an operator of a certified mobile farmers market to annually register with the Department of Food and Agriculture.

This bill would authorize enforcing officers to inspect places, conveyances, documentation, products, containers, and equipment pertaining to certified mobile farmers markets and would authorize enforcing officers to seize and hold as evidence certain materials to secure the conviction of a party, as specified.

(1)Existing law requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests, as specified. Existing law requires the secretary to establish the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee, and requires the committee to make recommendations to the secretary regarding vertebrate pest control research each year. Existing law requires each county agricultural commissioner to pay a specified fee to the secretary based on the amount of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied in the county, as specified. Existing law establishes the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, and continuously appropriates the moneys in the account to the secretary for specified purposes. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.

This bill would extend the operation of those provisions until January 1, 2035. By extending the secretarys authority to expend funds in a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

Existing law requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests, as specified. Existing law requires the secretary to establish the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee, and requires the committee to make recommendations to the secretary regarding vertebrate pest control research each year. Existing law requires each county agricultural commissioner to pay a specified fee to the secretary based on the amount of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied in the county, as specified. Existing law establishes the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, and continuously appropriates the moneys in the account to the secretary for specified purposes. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026.

This bill would extend the operation of those provisions until January 1, 2035. By extending the secretarys authority to expend funds in a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 1505

Author:(Committee on Agriculture)

As Amended Ver:June 19, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

This bill extends the Vertebrate Pest Control Research (VPCR) program to 2035. The VPCRs current repeal date is January 1, 2026. Additionally, this bill would clarify current law to specify that a medically important antimicrobial drug only be administered to livestock when it is ordered by a licensed veterinarian and meets the requirements of federal and state law, along with the already established Business Professions Code Section 4826.6 requirements. Finally, this bill would add enforcement to the certified mobile farmers’ market to mirror enforcement provisions of "static" certified farmers' markets.

Senate Amendments

Add the following:

1. Clarifies and conforms the medically important antimicrobial drug code to comply with federal and state, as well as Business Professions Code 4826.6 that is already required to be in compliance with.
2. Adds enforcement to certified mobile farmers' markets allowing an enforcing officer to inspect documents, products, containers and equipment and take samples to inspect and test. The enforcing officer may also seize and hold as evidence specified products in violation of this chapter. This enforcement models the current enforcement provisions for "static" certified farmers' markets.

COMMENTS

VPCR research projects investigate effective and economical alternative materials for the control of vertebrate pests. The Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (VPCRAC) solicit and consider research proposals for alternative humane methods of control, and continue the state's current vertebrate pest control product registrations until such time as effective alternative products are available.

This research is for the development of scientific data required to maintain registrations. VPCRAC cooperates with the US Department of Agriculture in funding research programs to maintain, develop, and register vertebrate pest control materials used in California.

VPCR will be repealed on January 1, 2026. This bill will extend the VPCR until January 1, 2035.

The enforcement provisions for the certified mobile farmers' markets are requested by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

FAC section 14401 need clarifying amendments to specify a medically important antimicrobial drug shall not be administered to livestock unless ordered by a licensed veterinarian through a prescription or Veterinary Feed Directive, pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship that meets the requirements of federal and state law, rather than BPC section 4826.6.

According to the Author

Each year, various private and public groups discover minor problems with state statutes affecting agriculture and policies under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Agriculture. These minor problems do not warrant separate and costly bills. According to the Legislative Analyst, the cost of producing a bill in 2001-02 was $17,890.

"Legislators respond by combining several of these minor topics into an annual "omnibus bill." In 2022, for example, the Assembly Committee on Agriculture (Ag Com) omnibus bill was AB 1959 (Ag Com) which contained noncontroversial statutory changes to three areas of local government law, avoiding approximately $35,780 in legislative costs. Although this practice may violate a strict interpretation of the single-subject and germaneness rules as presented in Californians for an Open Primary v. McPherson (2006), it is an expeditious and relatively inexpensive way to respond to multiple requests.

Arguments in Support

None on file

Arguments in Opposition

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS

Because this bill extends the sunset date and authorizes continued operation of the VPCR program, this analysis attributes the future costs of administering the program to the bill. The ongoing costs to CDFA to administer the VPCR program is in the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars annually (Vertebrate Pest Control Research Account (Account), Department of Food and Agriculture Fund).

CDFA notes the program is currently established with an annual budget of approximately $500,000; however, these costs will continue to be covered exclusively by cost recovery and an assessment on the sale of vertebrate pest control materials sold, distributed, or used by County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs).

VOTES:

ASM AGRICULTURE: 8-0-0

YES: Soria, Alanis, Aguiar-Curry, Connolly, Jeff Gonzalez, Hadwick, Irwin, Ransom

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0-0

YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer‑Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

SENATE FLOOR: 35-0-5

YES: \Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood‑Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener

ABS, ABST OR NV: Alvarado-Gil, Becker, Padilla, Reyes, Umberg

UPDATED

VERSION: June 19, 2025

CONSULTANT: Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN: 0001154

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AB 1505

Author: Committee on Agriculture

Amended: 6/19/25 in Senate

Vote: 21

SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE: 5-0, 7/1/25

AYES: Hurtado, Alvarado-Gil, Cortese, McNerney, Padilla

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/2/25 - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Food and agriculture: omnibus bill

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill (1) extends the Vertebrate Pest Control Research (VPCR) program to 2035. The VPCRs current repeal date is January 1, 2026. Additionally, this bill (2) clarifies current law to specify that a medically important antimicrobial drug only be administered to livestock when it is ordered by a licensed veterinarian and meets the requirements of federal and state law, along with the already established Business Professions Code Section 4826.6 requirements. Finally, this bill (3) adds enforcement to the certified mobile farmers’ market to mirror enforcement provisions of “static” certified farmers’ markets.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the VPCR program and the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (VPCRAC) to be administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture to deal with species that pose “a significant threat to the welfare of the state’s agricultural economy and the public”^[1] (Food and Agriculture Code § 6025-6029).
2. Prohibits an important antimicrobial drug be administered to livestock unless ordered by a licensed veterinarian through prescription or veterinary feed directive, pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship that meets the requirements of the Business and Professions Code § 4826.6 (Food and Agriculture Code § 14401).
3. Defines a certified mobile farmers’ market to mean a mobile food facility that moves agricultural products to point-of-sale locations to sell directly to communities. Requires certified farmers’ market operators comply with certification, labeling, and identification requirements, itemize lists of all products, and adhere to other Health and Safety Code requirements (Food and Agriculture Code § 47007).

This bill:

1. Extends the sunset date for the Vertebrate Pests Control Research program from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2035.
2. Clarifies and conforms the medically important antimicrobial drug code to comply with federal and state, as well as Business and Professions Code § 4826.6 that is already required to be in compliance with.
3. Adds enforcement to certified mobile farmers’ markets allowing an enforcing officer to inspect documents, products, containers and equipment and take samples to inspect and test. The enforcing officer may also seize and hold as evidence specified products in violation of this chapter. This enforcement models the current enforcement provisions for “static” certified farmers’ markets.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

This bill passed out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

SUPPORT: (Verified 7/14/25)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 7/14/25)

None received

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The author states:

“Each year, various private and public groups discover minor problems with state statutes affecting agriculture and policies under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Agriculture. These minor problems do not warrant separate and costly bills. According to the Legislative Analyst, the cost of producing a bill in 2001-02 was $17,890.

“Legislators respond by combining several of these minor topics into an annual “omnibus bill.” In 2022, for example, the Assembly Committee on Agriculture (Ag Com) omnibus bill was AB 1959 (Ag Com) which contained noncontroversial statutory changes to three areas of local government law, avoiding approximately $35,780 in legislative costs. Although this practice may violate a strict interpretation of the single-subject and germaneness rules as presented in Californians for an Open Primary v. McPherson (2006), it is an expeditious and relatively inexpensive way to respond to multiple requests.

“This Omnibus bill covers three issues:

1. Extending the Vertebrate Pest Control Research program to January 1 2035.
2. Conform Medically Important Antimicrobial code to federal regulations.
3. Add enforcement mechanism for Certified Mobile Farmers Markets that mirror the current enforcement provisions of “non-mobile” or “static’ certified farmers’ markets.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION:

None received.

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 79-0, 6/2/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

Prepared by: Reichel Everhart / AGRI. / (916) 651-1508

7/16/25 16:22:53

**** END ****

1. https://vpcrac.org/about/vpcrac-history ↑

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Senator Melissa Hurtado, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: AB 1505 Hearing Date: 7/1/25

Subject: Food and agriculture: omnibus bill

SUMMARY

:

This bill extends the Vertebrate Pest Control Research (VPCR) program to 2035. The VPCRs current repeal date is January 1, 2026. Additionally, this bill would clarify current law to specify that a medically important antimicrobial drug only be administered to livestock when it is ordered by a licensed veterinarian and meets the requirements of federal and state law, along with the already established Business Professions Code Section 4826.6 requirements. Finally, this bill would add enforcement to the certified mobile farmers’ market to mirror enforcement provisions of “static” certified farmers’ markets.

BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW

:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the Vertebrate Pest Control Research (VPCR) program and the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (VPCRAC) to be administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to deal with species that pose “a significant threat to the welfare of the state’s agricultural economy and the public”^[1] (Food and Agriculture Code 6025-6029).
2. Prohibits an important antimicrobial drug be administered to livestock unless ordered by a licensed veterinarian through prescription or veterinary feed directive, pursuant to a veterinarian-client-patient relationship that meets the requirements of the Business Professions Code 4826.6 (Food and Agriculture Code 14401).
3. Defines a certified mobile farmers’ market to mean a mobile food facility that moves agricultural products to point-of-sale locations to sell directly to communities. Requires certified farmers’ market operators comply with certification, labeling, and identification requirements, itemize lists of all products, along with other Health and Safety Code requirements (Food and Agriculture Code 47007).

PROPOSED LAW

:

This bill:

1. Extends the sunset date for the Vertebrate Pests Control Research program from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2035.
2. Clarifies and conforms the medically important antimicrobial drug code to comply with federal and state, as well as Business Professions Code 4826.6 that is already required to be in compliance with.
3. Adds enforcement to certified mobile farmers’ markets allowing an enforcing officer to inspect documents, products, containers and equipment and take samples to inspect and test. The enforcing officer may also seize and hold as evidence specified products in violation of this chapter. This enforcement models the current enforcement provisions for “static” certified farmers’ markets.

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:

The author states:

“Each year, various private and public groups discover minor problems with state statutes affecting agriculture and policies under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Agriculture. These minor problems do not warrant separate and costly bills. According to the Legislative Analyst, the cost of producing a bill in 2001-02 was $17,890.

“Legislators respond by combining several of these minor topics into an annual “omnibus bill.” In 2022, for example, the Assembly Committee on Agriculture (Ag Com) omnibus bill was AB 1959 (Ag Com) which contained noncontroversial statutory changes to three areas of local government law, avoiding approximately $35,780 in legislative costs. Although this practice may violate a strict interpretation of the single-subject and germaneness rules as presented in Californians for an Open Primary v. McPherson (2006), it is an expeditious and relatively inexpensive way to respond to multiple requests.

“This Omnibus bill covers three issues:

1) Extending the Vertebrate Pest Control Research program to January 1 2035.

2) Conform Medically Important Antimicrobial code to federal regulations.

3) Add enforcement mechanism for Certified Mobile Farmers Markets that mirror the current enforcement provisions of “non-mobile” or “static’ certified farmers’ markets.”

ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION:

None received.

COMMENTS

:

VPCR research projects investigate effective and economical alternative materials for the control of vertebrate pests. The Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (VPCRAC) solicit and consider research proposals for alternative humane methods of control, and continue the state's current vertebrate pest control product registrations until such time as effective alternative products are available.

This research is for the development of scientific data required to maintain registrations. VPCRAC cooperates with the US Department of Agriculture in funding research programs to maintain, develop, and register vertebrate pest control materials used in California.

VPCR will be repealed on January 1, 2026. This bill will extend the VPCR until January 1, 2035.

The enforcement provisions for the certified mobile farmers’ markets are requested by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

RELATED LEGISLATION

:

AB 2786 (Bonta) Chapter 915, Statutes of 2024: Required a certified mobile farmers’ market operator to be permitted and operate as a mobile food facility, among other requirements.

AB 1959 (Committee on Agriculture) Chapter 254, Statutes of 2022: This bill, among other things, extended the sunset on parts of the VPCR program until 2026.

AB 751 (Cooper) Chapter 372, States of 2015: This bill extends the sunset date of the VPCR program to 2026.

SB 872 (Denham) Chapter 176, Statutes of 2005. Extended for 10 years, until 2016, the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Program and Advisory Committee, among other things.

AB 2071 (Briggs) Chapter 338, States of 2000. This bill, among other things, extended the VPCR program to 2006.

AB 2776 (Waters) Chapter 757, Statutes of 1990: This bill required the Secretary of CDFA establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests in response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) determining more studies were needed on rodenticides and similar products before approving them for use. Recognizing the need for such products, CDFA developed this program to support research and data for the US EPA requirements.

PRIOR ACTIONS

:

SUPPORT

:

None received

OPPOSITION

:

None received

-- END --

1. https://vpcrac.org/about/vpcrac-history ↑

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 1505

Author:(Committee on Agriculture)

As Introduced Ver:February 25, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

This bill extends the Vertebrate Pest Control Research (VPCR) program to 2035. The VPCRs current repeal date is January 1, 2026.

Major Provisions

This bill extends the VPCR program to 2035. The VPCRs current repeal date is January 1, 2026.

COMMENTS

VPCR research projects investigate effective and economical alternative materials for the control of vertebrate pests. The Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (VPCRAC) solicit and consider research proposals for alternative humane methods of control, and continue the state's current vertebrate pest control product registrations until such time as effective alternative products are available.

This research is for the development of scientific data required to maintain registrations. VPCRAC cooperates with the US Department of Agriculture in funding research programs to maintain, develop, and register vertebrate pest control materials used in California.

VPCR maintains a staff of biologists with expertise in regulatory weed and vertebrate pest eradication and suppression programs directed at vertebrate pests of limited distribution. The project also provides general supervision, technical assistance and training in vertebrate pest control to county agricultural commissioner personnel engaged in regulatory vertebrate pest control activities.

VPCR will be repealed on January 1, 2026. This bill will extend the VPCR until January 1, 2035.

According to the Author

VPRC is important to agriculture in California due to the program's research to investigate effective and economical alternative materials for the control of vertebrate pests. Vertebrate pest damage in California agriculture is significant, and particularly severe in a few important crops, including alfalfa, many fruit and nut crops, and artichokes.

Arguments in Support

None on file

Arguments in Opposition

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS

Because this bill extends the sunset date and authorizes continued operation of the VPCR program, this analysis attributes the future costs of administering the program to the bill. The ongoing costs to CDFA to administer the VPCR program is in the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars annually (Vertebrate Pest Control Research Account (Account), Department of Food and Agriculture Fund). CDFA notes the program is currently established with an annual budget of approximately $500,000; however, these costs will continue to be covered exclusively by cost recovery and an assessment on the sale of vertebrate pest control materials sold, distributed, or used by County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs). See comments below for more information.

VOTES

ASM AGRICULTURE: 8-0-0

YES: Soria, Alanis, Aguiar-Curry, Connolly, Jeff Gonzalez, Hadwick, Irwin, Ransom

ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1

YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa

ABS, ABST OR NV: Sanchez

UPDATED

VERSION: February 25, 2025

CONSULTANT: Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN: 0000558

Date of Hearing: May 14, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Buffy Wicks, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1505

Author:(Committee on Agriculture) – As Introduced Ver:February 25, 2025

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill extends the sunset date on the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) vertebrate pest control research (VPCR) program from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2035.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Because this bill extends the sunset date and authorizes continued operation of the VPCR program, this analysis attributes the future costs of administering the program to the bill. The ongoing costs to CDFA to administer the VPCR program is in the mid-hundreds of thousands of dollars annually (Vertebrate Pest Control Research Account (Account), Department of Food and Agriculture Fund). CDFA notes the program is currently established with an annual budget of approximately $500,000; however, these costs will continue to be covered exclusively by cost recovery and an assessment on the sale of vertebrate pest control materials sold, distributed, or used by County Agricultural Commissioners (CACs). See comments below for more information.

COMMENTS:

This bill extends the sunset date on Article 6.5 of the Food and Agriculture Code, which, among other things, does the following:

1) Requires the secretary of CDFA to establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests that pose a significant threat to the welfare of the state’s agricultural economy, infrastructure, and the public, as specified.

2) Requires the secretary to establish the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (Committee) and appoint members to serve on the committee, as specified.

3) Requires the Committee, by December 31 of each year, to recommend to the secretary priorities for conducting various vertebrate pest control research projects and the amount of the assessment necessary to carry out those research projects.

4) Creates the Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Requires the money in the Account to be continuously appropriated to the secretary for purposes of carrying out this article, as specified. Limits expenditure of funds pursuant to this article for specified purposes, including reasonable administrative and operational expenses of the Committee and CDFA, subject to the recommendation of an annual budget by the Committee and approval by CDFA.

5) Requires each CAC to pay to the secretary a fee not to exceed $0.50 per pound of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied by the county for vertebrate pest control purposes, less the amount necessary to recover the cost of complying with the provisions of this article, as determined by the secretary, as specified.

6) Authorizes the secretary to set a different level of assessment in the amount necessary to provide revenue for the vertebrate pest control research projects carried out pursuant to this article only if the secretary, at a minimum, has consulted with the Committee, as specified. Provides that the assessment shall not exceed $1 per pound of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied by the county for vertebrate pest control purposes.

7) Requires CDFA, to assist the Committee in making its recommendations, to submit a progress report to the members of the Committee, as specified.

The VPCR program maintains a staff of biologists with expertise in regulatory weed and vertebrate pest eradication and suppression programs directed at vertebrate pests of limited distribution. The program also provides general supervision, technical assistance, and training in vertebrate pest control to CAC personnel engaged in regulatory vertebrate pest control activities.

According to CDFA, the VPCR program is currently accepting research proposals to “enhance control measures of vertebrate pests that pose a significant threat to the welfare of the state’s agricultural economy, infrastructure, environment, and the public.” CDFA notes that the sum of all projects approved by the Committee each year may not exceed $200,000, and proposals leveraging other sources of funding are strongly encouraged.

The VPCR program is set to expire at the end of this year. This bill extends the sunset date on the program until January 1, 2035.

Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 30, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

Esmeralda Soria, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1505

Author:(Committee on Agriculture) – As Introduced Ver:February 25, 2025

SUBJECT: Pest control: vertebrate pest control research: repeal extension

SUMMARY: This bill extends the Vertebrate Pest Control Research (VPCR) program to 2035. The VPCRs current repeal date is January 1, 2026.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Requires the Secretary (secretary) of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests, as specified. Food and Agriculture Code (FAC) 6025.5.
2. Requires the secretary to establish the VPCR Advisory Committee, and requires the committee to make recommendations to the secretary regarding vertebrate pest control research each year. FAC 6026
3. Requires each county agricultural commissioner to pay a specified fee to the secretary based on the amount of vertebrate pest control material sold, distributed, or applied in the county, as specified. FAC 6027.5
4. Establishes the VPCR account in the CDFA Fund, and continuously appropriates the moneys in the account to the secretary for specified purposes. FAC 6027
5. Repeals these provisions on January 1, 2026. FAC 6029

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS: VPCR research projects investigate effective and economical alternative materials for the control of vertebrate pests. The Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee (VPCRAC) solicit and consider research proposals for alternative humane methods of control, and continue the state's current vertebrate pest control product registrations until such time as effective alternative products are available.

This research is for the development of scientific data required to maintain registrations. VPCRAC cooperates with the US Department of Agriculture in funding research programs to maintain, develop, and register vertebrate pest control materials used in California.

VPCR maintains a staff of biologists with expertise in regulatory weed and vertebrate pest eradication and suppression programs directed at vertebrate pests of limited distribution. The project also provides general supervision, technical assistance and training in vertebrate pest control to county agricultural commissioner personnel engaged in regulatory vertebrate pest control activities.

VPCR will be repealed on January 1, 2026. This bill will extend the VPCR until January 1, 2035.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084