AB 230: Pest control: Pierce’s disease.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2026-09-27
Current Status:
Passed
(2026-09-27: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 498, Statutes of 2026.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
(1)Existing law establishes the Pierces Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Existing law allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat Pierces disease and its vectors, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and for purposes relating to other designated pests and diseases, as provided. Existing law makes these provisions inoperative on March 1, 2031.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions indefinitely, except that the bill would make these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, as described below. By extending the operation of a partially continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.
(2)Existing law creates in the department the Pierces Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, which consists of specified members, and prescribes the functions and duties of the board with respect to implementation of the Pierces disease program. Existing law provides for an annual assessment to be paid by grape processors, as defined, into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and continuously appropriates the collected funds for the purposes of, among other things, research and other activities related to the Pierces disease program. Existing law repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031.
This bill would change the name of the board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
This bill would extend the operation of the provisions concerning the board indefinitely, except that this bill would require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, no later than June 30, 2030, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, to hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of these provisions should be continued. If the secretary makes a specified finding after one of those hearings, the bill would require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the continued operation of the board. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given for the continued operation of the board, the bill would end the operation of the board as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
By extending the date until which the assessments are collected and deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
(3)Existing law, until March 1, 2031, requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to appoint an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease.
This bill would also require the task force to advise the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on the control and management of other designated pests and diseases. The bill would extend the operation of the task force indefinitely, subject to becoming inoperative if the operation of the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board is discontinued.
(4)Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
(1)Existing law establishes the Pierces Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Existing law allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat Pierces disease and its vectors, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and for purposes relating to other designated pests and diseases, as provided. Existing law makes these provisions inoperative on March 1, 2031.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions indefinitely, except that the bill would make these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, as described below. By extending the operation of a partially continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.
(2)Existing law creates in the department the Pierces Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, which consists of specified members, and prescribes the functions and duties of the board with respect to implementation of the Pierces disease program. Existing law provides for an annual assessment to be paid by grape processors, as defined, into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and continuously appropriates the collected funds for the purposes of, among other things, research and other activities related to the Pierces disease program. Existing law repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031.
This bill would change the name of the board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
This bill would extend the operation of the provisions concerning the board indefinitely, except that this bill would require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, no later than June 30, 2030, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, to hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of these provisions should be continued. If the secretary makes a specified finding after one of those hearings, the bill would require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the continued operation of the board. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given for the continued operation of the board, the bill would end the operation of the board as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
By extending the date until which the assessments are collected and deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
(3)Existing law, until March 1, 2031, requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to appoint an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease.
This bill would also require the task force to advise the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on the control and management of other designated pests and diseases. The bill would extend the operation of the task force indefinitely, subject to becoming inoperative if the operation of the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board is discontinued.
(4)Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
(1)Existing law establishes the Pierces Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Existing law allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat Pierces disease and its vectors, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and for purposes relating to other designated pests and diseases, as provided. Existing law makes these provisions inoperative on March 1, 2031.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions to March 1, 2036. indefinitely, except that the bill would make these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, as described below. By extending the operative date for operation of a partially continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.
(2)Existing law creates in the department the Pierces Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, which consists of specified members, and prescribes the functions and duties of the board with respect to implementation of the Pierces disease program. Existing law provides for an annual assessment to be paid by grape processors, as defined, into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and continuously appropriates the collected funds for the purposes of, among other things, research and other activities related to the Pierces disease program. Existing law repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031.
This bill would change the name of the board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
This bill would extend the operation of these the provisions to March 1, 2036, concerning the board indefinitely, except that this bill would make these provisions inoperative as of March 1, 2031, unless the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a specified referendum has been given. The bill would require, no later than April 15, 2030, the secretary to establish a list of those individuals eligible to vote in the referendum on the continued implementation of these provisions, as specified. By require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, no later than June 30, 2030, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, to hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of these provisions should be continued. If the secretary makes a specified finding after one of those hearings, the bill would require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the continued operation of the board. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given for the continued operation of the board, the bill would end the operation of the board as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
By extending the date until which the assessments are collected and deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
(3)Existing law, until March 1, 2031, requires the secretary Secretary of Food and Agriculture to appoint an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease.
This bill would also require the task force to advise the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on the control and management of other designated pests and diseases. The bill would extend the operation of these provisions to March 1, 2036. the task force indefinitely, subject to becoming inoperative if the operation of the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board is discontinued.
(4)Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
(1)Existing law establishes the Pierces Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Existing law allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat Pierces disease and its vectors, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and for purposes relating to other designated pests and diseases, as provided. Existing law makes these provisions inoperative on March 1, 2031.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions to March 1, 2036. By extending the operative date for a partially continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.
(2)Existing law creates in the department the Pierces Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, which consists of specified members, and prescribes the functions and duties of the board with respect to implementation of the Pierces disease program. Existing law provides for an annual assessment to be paid by grape processors, as defined, into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and continuously appropriates the collected funds for the purposes of, among other things, research and other activities related to the Pierces disease program. Existing law repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions to March 1, 2036, except that this bill would make these provisions inoperative as of March 1, 2031, unless the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a specified referendum has been given. The bill would require, no later than April 15, 2030, the secretary to establish a list of those individuals eligible to vote in the referendum on the continued implementation of these provisions, as specified. By extending the date until which the assessments are collected and deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
(3)Existing law, until March 1, 2031, requires the secretary to appoint an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease.
This bill would extend the operation of these provisions to March 1, 2036.
(4)Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Existing law establishes the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority for purposes of planning, developing, delivering, and operating cost-effective and responsive rail connectivity, between the Bay Area Rapid Transit system and the Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail service, as provided. Existing law establishes a governing board for the authority that comprises of representatives from specified entities, including the Mountain House Community Services District.This bill would require a representative from the City of Mountain House to be on the governing board for the authority, instead of a representative from the Mountain House Community Services District. By imposing new duties on the City of Mountain House, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Existing law establishes the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority for purposes of planning, developing, delivering, and operating cost-effective and responsive rail connectivity, between the Bay Area Rapid Transit system and the Altamont Corridor Express commuter rail service, as provided. Existing law establishes a governing board for the authority that comprises of representatives from specified entities, including the Mountain House Community Services District.
This bill would require a representative from the City of Mountain House to be on the governing board for the authority, instead of a representative from the Mountain House Community Services District. By imposing new duties on the City of Mountain House, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
(a)There is hereby created in the department the Pierces Disease Control Program.
(b)The secretary shall appoint a statewide coordinator and provide an appropriate level of support staffing and logistical support for combating Pierces disease and its vectors.
(c)(1)There is hereby created the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.
(2)The account shall consist of money transferred from the General Fund and money made available from federal, industry, and other sources. Money made available from federal, industry, and other sources shall be available for expenditure without regard to fiscal year for the purpose of combating Pierces disease or its vectors and for the purpose described in Section 6047.30. State general funds to be used for research shall be expended only when the secretary has received commitments from nonstate sources for at least a 25-percent match for each state dollar to be expended.
(d)The funds appropriated pursuant to this section to the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund for the purpose of combating Pierces disease and its vectors shall be used for costs that are incurred by the state or by local entities for the purpose of research and other efforts to combat Pierces disease and its vectors.
(e)Whenever, in any county, funds are allocated by the department for local assistance regarding Pierces disease and its vectors, those funds shall be made available to a local public entity, or local public entities, designated by that countys board of supervisors.
(f)Funds appropriated for local assistance shall not be allocated to the local public entity until the local public entity creates a Pierces disease work plan that is approved by the department. Any funds allocated by the department to a designated local public entity shall be used for activities consistent with the local Pierces disease work plan or other programs or work plans approved by the department. It shall be the responsibility of the designated local public entity to develop and implement the local Pierces disease work plan. Upon request, the department shall provide consultation to the local public entity regarding its work plan.
(g)The work plan created by the designated local public entity shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of producer outreach information and training to local communities, groups, and individuals to organize their involvement with the work plan and to raise awareness regarding Pierces disease and its vectors.
(2)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of ongoing training of the designated local public entitys employees in the biology, survey, and treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors.
(3)The identification within the designated local public entity of a local Pierces disease coordinator.
(4)The proposed treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors. A treatment program shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations and shall be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
(5)In coordination with the department, the development and implementation of a data collection system to track and report new infestations of Pierces disease and its vectors in a manner respectful of property and other rights of those affected.
(h)On an annual basis, while funds appropriated by this section are available for encumbrance, the department shall review the progress of each local public entitys activities regarding Pierces disease and its vectors and, as needed, make recommendations regarding those activities to the local public entity.
(i)If Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 6047.1) becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27 as a result of the secretary making a finding that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given, this article shall become inoperative on March 1 on the fifth calendar year following the calendar year in which the referendum is held, and as of January 1 of the following calendar year, is repealed.
SEC. 2.The heading of Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 6047.1) of Chapter 9 of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:8.5.Winegrape Pest and Disease PreventionSEC. 3.Section 6047.2 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.2.For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(a)Board means the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Marketing season begins July 1 of each year and ends June 30 of the next year.
(d)Producer means a grower, including a cooperative, of grapes in California for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy.
(e)Processor means a processor who crushes grapes in California for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy.
(f)Person means a producer, processor, or any other entity that holds title to grapes subject to assessment.
(g)Purchase means the taking by sale, discount, negotiation, mortgage, pledge, lien, issue or reissue, gift, or any other voluntary transaction creating an interest in property. For purposes of this subdivision, sale shall consist of the passing of title from the seller to the buyer for a price.
(h)Purchased grapes means grapes grown in California, crushed by a processor for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy, and purchased from a person considered a separate entity from the purchaser.
(i)Grapes not purchased means all other grapes grown in California and crushed by a processor for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)Grapes grown by a person who is not considered a separate entity from the processor or who is a member of the processor cooperative.
(2)Grapes not purchased and crushed to the account of a person who retains ownership of the grapes.
(j)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
(k)Other designated pests and diseases means pests and diseases designated by the secretary as provided in Section 6047.30.
SEC. 4.Section 6047.3 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.3.(a)The secretary shall create in the department the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, which shall consist of at least 14, but not more than 15 members, of which eight shall be representatives of producers who are not also processors and six shall be representatives of processors who are also producers.
(b)The secretary shall appoint the members of the board from recommendations received from the industry. In making the appointments, the secretary shall select no more than one person from a producer or processor entity and shall ensure that there is representation on the board from each of the major grape production areas in the state.
(c)The secretary may appoint one additional member to the board, from nominees received from the board, who shall serve as the public member. The public member shall represent the interests of the public in all matters coming before the board and shall have the same voting and other rights and immunities as other members of the board.
(d)The secretary and other appropriate individuals, as determined by the board, shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the board.
(e)It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that persons appointed to the board are intended to represent and further the interests of the industry concerned, and that this representation and furtherance is intended to serve the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that, with respect to persons who are appointed to the board, the industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes, the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.
SEC. 5.Section 6047.3.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.3.5.Notwithstanding any other law, the secretary, upon the recommendation of the board, may contract with any nonprofit authoritative scientific body with expertise in agricultural issues in order to expedite research relating to the prevention of Pierces disease and other designated pests and diseases.
SEC. 6.Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.19.(a)On or before December 31 of every year, the secretary, after consultation with the board, shall make publicly available on the departments internet website, a report on the status of this article and Article 8 (commencing with Section 6045), including, but not limited to, program expenditures, progress, and ongoing priorities in combating Pierces disease and its vectors and other designated pests and diseases in California for the previous calendar year.
(b)The report shall include a financial accounting, including the distribution of industry assessments and any unexpended amount on deposit, of the departments efforts to contain Pierces disease and its vectors and other designated pests and diseases.
SEC. 7.Section 6047.20 of the Food and Agricultural Code is repealed.SEC. 8.Section 6047.20 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:6047.20.No later than June 30, 2030, the secretary shall hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of this article should be continued. Thereafter, the secretary shall conduct the review process as necessary, but not less frequent than once every five years.
SEC. 9.Section 6047.21 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.21.(a)(1)If the secretary finds after the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 6047.20 that a substantial question of opposition does not exist among affected producers under this article, the operation of this article shall continue in effect without a referendum.
(2)If the secretary finds after the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 6047.20 that a substantial question of opposition exists among affected producers under this article regarding whether the operation of this article should be continued, the secretary shall submit the article for approval using the following voting procedures set forth in this section and Sections 6047.22 to 6047.27, inclusive. If the secretary determines the requirement for referendum has been met, the secretary shall establish a list of persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article.
(3)As used in this subdivision, substantial question of opposition means opposition to the substance of the petition among currently affected producers and is not intended to mean a particular number of producers.
(b)Eligibility shall be limited to the producers, processors, and persons who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.
(c)(1)In establishing the list, the secretary may require processors, producers, and others to submit the names, mailing addresses, and assessment values of all producers who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.
(2)The information required by the secretary shall be filed either with the information submitted to the department pursuant to Sections 55601.5 and 55601.6 or no later than 30 days following receipt of a written notice from the secretary requesting the information.
(d)Any producer whose name does not appear on the secretarys list may have their name added to the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying themselves as a producer that paid an assessment during the most recent marketing season.
SEC. 10.Section 6047.22 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.22.For the purpose of voting in the referendum required in Section 6047.21, only a person required to pay the assessment pursuant to Section 6047.8 shall have the right to vote.
SEC. 11.Section 6047.23 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.23.In determining whether this article shall become inoperative, the secretary shall find that either one of the following occurred:
(a)Sixty-five percent or more of the persons who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this article, and the persons who voted paid a majority of the assessment dollars on grapes in the preceding marketing season that were paid by all the persons who voted in the referendum.
(b)A majority of the persons who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this article, and the persons who voted paid 65 percent or more of the assessment dollars on grapes in the preceding marketing season that were paid by all the persons who voted in the referendum.
SEC. 12.Section 6047.27 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.27.(a)(1)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote as provided in this article has not been given, this article, except as provided in Sections 6047.29 and 6047.31, shall become inoperative as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
(b)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify and give notice of the favorable vote to all persons whose names and addresses may be on file with the secretary as provided in Section 6047.21.
SEC. 13.Section 6047.29 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.29.(a)The secretary shall appoint an advisory task force consisting of scientific experts, including, but not limited to, university researchers and agricultural representatives, for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease and other designated pests and diseases.
(b)Members of the advisory task force, or alternate members when acting as members, may be reimbursed, upon request, for necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(c)Notwithstanding Section 6047.27, if this article becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27 as a result of the secretary making a finding that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given, this section shall become inoperative on March 1 on the fifth calendar year following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
SEC. 14.Section 6047.31 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:6047.31.If this article becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27, this article shall be repealed as of January 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year that Section 6047.29 becomes inoperative.
SEC. 15.The Legislature finds and declares that Sections 6047.5 and 6047.13 of the Food and Agricultural Code, which are extended pursuant to Section 6 of this act, which amends Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code, impose a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:
In order to protect the personal and financial information of a person subject to the act, it is necessary that this act limit the publics right of access to that information.
(a)There is hereby created in the department the Pierces Disease Control Program.
(b)The secretary shall appoint a statewide coordinator and provide an appropriate level of support staffing and logistical support for combating Pierces disease and its vectors.
(c)(1)There is hereby created the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.
(2)The account shall consist of money transferred from the General Fund and money made available from federal, industry, and other sources. Money made available from federal, industry, and other sources shall be available for expenditure without regard to fiscal year for the purpose of combating Pierces disease or its vectors and for the purpose described in Section 6047.30. State general funds to be used for research shall be expended only when the secretary has received commitments from nonstate sources for at least a 25-percent match for each state dollar to be expended.
(d)The funds appropriated pursuant to this section to the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund for the purpose of combating Pierces disease and its vectors shall be used for costs that are incurred by the state or by local entities for the purpose of research and other efforts to combat Pierces disease and its vectors.
(e)Whenever, in any county, funds are allocated by the department for local assistance regarding Pierces disease and its vectors, those funds shall be made available to a local public entity, or local public entities, designated by that countys board of supervisors.
(f)Funds appropriated for local assistance shall not be allocated to the local public entity until the local public entity creates a Pierces disease work plan that is approved by the department. Any funds allocated by the department to a designated local public entity shall be used for activities consistent with the local Pierces disease work plan or other programs or work plans approved by the department. It shall be the responsibility of the designated local public entity to develop and implement the local Pierces disease work plan. Upon request, the department shall provide consultation to the local public entity regarding its work plan.
(g)The work plan created by the designated local public entity shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of producer outreach information and training to local communities, groups, and individuals to organize their involvement with the work plan and to raise awareness regarding Pierces disease and its vectors.
(2)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of ongoing training of the designated local public entitys employees in the biology, survey, and treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors.
(3)The identification within the designated local public entity of a local Pierces disease coordinator.
(4)The proposed treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors. A treatment program shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations and shall be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
(5)In coordination with the department, the development and implementation of a data collection system to track and report new infestations of Pierces disease and its vectors in a manner respectful of property and other rights of those affected.
(h)On an annual basis, while funds appropriated by this section are available for encumbrance, the department shall review the progress of each local public entitys activities regarding Pierces disease and its vectors and, as needed, make recommendations regarding those activities to the local public entity.
(i)If Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 6047.1) becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27 as a result of the secretary making a finding that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given, this article shall become inoperative on March 1 on the fifth calendar year following the calendar year in which the referendum is held, and as of January 1 of the following calendar year, is repealed.
SEC. 2.The heading of Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 6047.1) of Chapter 9 of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:8.5.Winegrape Pest and Disease PreventionSEC. 3.Section 6047.2 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.2.For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(a)Board means the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Marketing season begins July 1 of each year and ends June 30 of the next year.
(d)Producer means a grower, including a cooperative, of grapes in California for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy.
(e)Processor means a processor who crushes grapes in California for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy.
(f)Person means a producer, processor, or any other entity that holds title to grapes subject to assessment.
(g)Purchase means the taking by sale, discount, negotiation, mortgage, pledge, lien, issue or reissue, gift, or any other voluntary transaction creating an interest in property. For purposes of this subdivision, sale shall consist of the passing of title from the seller to the buyer for a price.
(h)Purchased grapes means grapes grown in California, crushed by a processor for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy, and purchased from a person considered a separate entity from the purchaser.
(i)Grapes not purchased means all other grapes grown in California and crushed by a processor for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)Grapes grown by a person who is not considered a separate entity from the processor or who is a member of the processor cooperative.
(2)Grapes not purchased and crushed to the account of a person who retains ownership of the grapes.
(j)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
(k)Other designated pests and diseases means pests and diseases designated by the secretary as provided in Section 6047.30.
SEC. 4.Section 6047.3 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.3.(a)The secretary shall create in the department the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, which shall consist of at least 14, but not more than 15 members, of which eight shall be representatives of producers who are not also processors and six shall be representatives of processors who are also producers.
(b)The secretary shall appoint the members of the board from recommendations received from the industry. In making the appointments, the secretary shall select no more than one person from a producer or processor entity and shall ensure that there is representation on the board from each of the major grape production areas in the state.
(c)The secretary may appoint one additional member to the board, from nominees received from the board, who shall serve as the public member. The public member shall represent the interests of the public in all matters coming before the board and shall have the same voting and other rights and immunities as other members of the board.
(d)The secretary and other appropriate individuals, as determined by the board, shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the board.
(e)It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that persons appointed to the board are intended to represent and further the interests of the industry concerned, and that this representation and furtherance is intended to serve the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that, with respect to persons who are appointed to the board, the industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes, the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.
SEC. 5.Section 6047.3.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.3.5.Notwithstanding any other law, the secretary, upon the recommendation of the board, may contract with any nonprofit authoritative scientific body with expertise in agricultural issues in order to expedite research relating to the prevention of Pierces disease and other designated pests and diseases.
SEC. 6.Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.19.(a)On or before December 31 of every year, the secretary, after consultation with the board, shall make publicly available on the departments internet website, a report on the status of this article and Article 8 (commencing with Section 6045), including, but not limited to, program expenditures, progress, and ongoing priorities in combating Pierces disease and its vectors and other designated pests and diseases in California for the previous calendar year.
(b)The report shall include a financial accounting, including the distribution of industry assessments and any unexpended amount on deposit, of the departments efforts to contain Pierces disease and its vectors and other designated pests and diseases.
SEC. 7.Section 6047.20 of the Food and Agricultural Code is repealed.SEC. 8.Section 6047.20 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:6047.20.No later than June 30, 2030, the secretary shall hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of this article should be continued. Thereafter, the secretary shall conduct the review process as necessary, but not less frequent than once every five years.
SEC. 9.Section 6047.21 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.21.(a)(1)If the secretary finds after the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 6047.20 that a substantial question of opposition does not exist among affected producers under this article, the operation of this article shall continue in effect without a referendum.
(2)If the secretary finds after the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 6047.20 that a substantial question of opposition exists among affected producers under this article regarding whether the operation of this article should be continued, the secretary shall submit the article for approval using the following voting procedures set forth in this section and Sections 6047.22 to 6047.27, inclusive. If the secretary determines the requirement for referendum has been met, the secretary shall establish a list of persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article.
(3)As used in this subdivision, substantial question of opposition means opposition to the substance of the petition among currently affected producers and is not intended to mean a particular number of producers.
(b)Eligibility shall be limited to the producers, processors, and persons who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.
(c)(1)In establishing the list, the secretary may require processors, producers, and others to submit the names, mailing addresses, and assessment values of all producers who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.
(2)The information required by the secretary shall be filed either with the information submitted to the department pursuant to Sections 55601.5 and 55601.6 or no later than 30 days following receipt of a written notice from the secretary requesting the information.
(d)Any producer whose name does not appear on the secretarys list may have their name added to the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying themselves as a producer that paid an assessment during the most recent marketing season.
SEC. 10.Section 6047.22 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.22.For the purpose of voting in the referendum required in Section 6047.21, only a person required to pay the assessment pursuant to Section 6047.8 shall have the right to vote.
SEC. 11.Section 6047.23 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.23.In determining whether this article shall become inoperative, the secretary shall find that either one of the following occurred:
(a)Sixty-five percent or more of the persons who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this article, and the persons who voted paid a majority of the assessment dollars on grapes in the preceding marketing season that were paid by all the persons who voted in the referendum.
(b)A majority of the persons who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this article, and the persons who voted paid 65 percent or more of the assessment dollars on grapes in the preceding marketing season that were paid by all the persons who voted in the referendum.
SEC. 12.Section 6047.27 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.27.(a)(1)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote as provided in this article has not been given, this article, except as provided in Sections 6047.29 and 6047.31, shall become inoperative as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
(b)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify and give notice of the favorable vote to all persons whose names and addresses may be on file with the secretary as provided in Section 6047.21.
SEC. 13.Section 6047.29 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.29.(a)The secretary shall appoint an advisory task force consisting of scientific experts, including, but not limited to, university researchers and agricultural representatives, for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease and other designated pests and diseases.
(b)Members of the advisory task force, or alternate members when acting as members, may be reimbursed, upon request, for necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(c)Notwithstanding Section 6047.27, if this article becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27 as a result of the secretary making a finding that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given, this section shall become inoperative on March 1 on the fifth calendar year following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
SEC. 14.Section 6047.31 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:6047.31.If this article becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27, this article shall be repealed as of January 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year that Section 6047.29 becomes inoperative.
SEC. 15.The Legislature finds and declares that Sections 6047.5 and 6047.13 of the Food and Agricultural Code, which are extended pursuant to Section 6 of this act, which amends Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code, impose a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:
In order to protect the personal and financial information of a person subject to the act, it is necessary that this act limit the publics right of access to that information.
(a)There is hereby created in the department the Pierces Disease Control Program.
(b)The secretary shall appoint a statewide coordinator and provide an appropriate level of support staffing and logistical support for combating Pierces disease and its vectors.
(c)(1)There is hereby created the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.
(2)The account shall consist of money transferred from the General Fund and money made available from federal, industry, and other sources. Money made available from federal, industry, and other sources shall be available for expenditure without regard to fiscal year for the purpose of combating Pierces disease or its vectors and for the purpose described in Section 6047.30. State general funds to be used for research shall be expended only when the secretary has received commitments from nonstate sources for at least a 25-percent match for each state dollar to be expended.
(d)The funds appropriated pursuant to this section to the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund for the purpose of combating Pierces disease and its vectors shall be used for costs that are incurred by the state or by local entities for the purpose of research and other efforts to combat Pierces disease and its vectors.
(e)Whenever, in any county, funds are allocated by the department for local assistance regarding Pierces disease and its vectors, those funds shall be made available to a local public entity, or local public entities, designated by that countys board of supervisors.
(f)Funds appropriated for local assistance shall not be allocated to the local public entity until the local public entity creates a Pierces disease work plan that is approved by the department. Any funds allocated by the department to a designated local public entity shall be used for activities consistent with the local Pierces disease work plan or other programs or work plans approved by the department. It shall be the responsibility of the designated local public entity to develop and implement the local Pierces disease work plan. Upon request, the department shall provide consultation to the local public entity regarding its work plan.
(g)The work plan created by the designated local public entity shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of producer outreach information and training to local communities, groups, and individuals to organize their involvement with the work plan and to raise awareness regarding Pierces disease and its vectors.
(2)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of ongoing training of the designated local public entitys employees in the biology, survey, and treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors.
(3)The identification within the designated local public entity of a local Pierces disease coordinator.
(4)The proposed treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors. A treatment program shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations and shall be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
(5)In coordination with the department, the development and implementation of a data collection system to track and report new infestations of Pierces disease and its vectors in a manner respectful of property and other rights of those affected.
(h)On an annual basis, while funds appropriated by this section are available for encumbrance, the department shall review the progress of each local public entitys activities regarding Pierces disease and its vectors and, as needed, make recommendations regarding those activities to the local public entity.
(i)This article shall become inoperative on March 1, 2031, and as of January 1, 2032, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2032, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.(i)If Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 6047.1) becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27 as a result of the secretary making a finding that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given, this article shall become inoperative on March 1 on the fifth calendar year following the calendar year in which the referendum is held, and as of January 1 of the following calendar year, is repealed.
SEC. 2.The heading of Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 6047.1) of Chapter 9 of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:8.5.Pierces Disease and the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Winegrape Pest and Disease PreventionSEC. 3.Section 6047.2 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.2.For the purposes of this article, the following definitions shall govern its construction: apply:
(a)Board means the Pierces Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
(b)Department means the Department of Food and Agriculture.
(c)Marketing season begins July 1 of each year and ends June 30 of the next year.
(d)Producer means a grower, including a cooperative, of grapes in California for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy.
(e)Processor means a processor who crushes grapes in California for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy.
(f)Person means a producer, processor, or any other entity that holds title to grapes subject to assessment.
(g)Purchase means the taking by sale, discount, negotiation, mortgage, pledge, lien, issue or reissue, gift, or any other voluntary transaction creating an interest in property. For purposes of this subdivision, sale shall consist of the passing of title from the seller to the buyer for a price.
(h)Purchased grapes means grapes grown in California, crushed by a processor for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy, and purchased from a person considered a separate entity from the purchaser.
(i)Grapes not purchased means all other grapes grown in California and crushed by a processor for wine, wine vinegar, juice, concentrate, or beverage brandy, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)Grapes grown by a person who is not considered a separate entity from the processor or who is a member of the processor cooperative.
(2)Grapes not purchased and crushed to the account of a person who retains ownership of the grapes.
(j)Secretary means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
(k) Other(k)Other designated pests and diseases means pests and diseases designated by the secretary as provided in Section 6047.30.
SEC. 4.Section 6047.3 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.3.(a)Within 90 days after the effective date of this section, the The secretary shall create in the department the Pierces Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, which shall consist of at least 14, but not more than 15 members, of which eight shall be representatives of producers who are not also processors and six shall be representatives of processors who are also producers.
(b)The secretary shall appoint the members of the board from recommendations received from the industry. In making the appointments, the secretary shall select no more than one person from a producer or processor entity and shall ensure that there is representation on the board from each of the major grape production areas in the state.
(c)The secretary may appoint one additional member to the board, from nominees received from the board, who shall serve as the public member. The public member shall represent the interests of the public in all matters coming before the board and shall have the same voting and other rights and immunities as other members of the board.
(d)The secretary and other appropriate individuals, as determined by the board, shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the board.
(e)It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that persons appointed to the board are intended to represent and further the interests of the industry concerned, and that this representation and furtherance is intended to serve the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that, with respect to persons who are appointed to the board, the industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes, the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.
SEC. 5.Section 6047.3.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.3.5.Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the secretary, upon the recommendation of the board, may contract with any nonprofit authoritative scientific body with expertise in agricultural issues in order to expedite research relating to the eradication prevention of Pierces disease. disease and other designated pests and diseases.
SEC. 6.Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.19.(a)On or before December 31 of every year, the secretary, after consultation with the board, shall make publicly available on the departments internet website, a report on the status of this article and Article 8 (commencing with Section 6045), including, but not limited to, program expenditures, progress, and ongoing priorities in combating Pierces disease and its vectors and other designated pests and diseases in California for the previous calendar year.
(b)The report shall include a financial accounting, including the distribution of industry assessments and any unexpended amount on deposit, of the departments efforts to contain Pierces disease and its vectors. vectors and other designated pests and diseases.
(c)If this article does not become inoperative on an earlier date pursuant to Section 6047.20 or 6047.27, this article shall remain in effect only until March 1, 2031, and in any case is repealed as of that date, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before March 1, 2031, deletes or extends that date.SEC. 7.Section 6047.20 of the Food and Agricultural Code is repealed.6047.20.This article shall become inoperative as of March 1, 2026, unless the secretary finds, in a referendum conducted by the secretary, or a person designated by the secretary, subsequent to the operative date of the amendments to this section adopted in 2024, that a favorable vote has been given pursuant to this article.SEC. 8.Section 6047.20 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:6047.20.No later than June 30, 2030, the secretary shall hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of this article should be continued. Thereafter, the secretary shall conduct the review process as necessary, but not less frequent than once every five years.
SEC. 9.Section 6047.21 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.21.(a)No later than April 15, 2025, (1)If the secretary shall establish a list of those persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article. finds after the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 6047.20 that a substantial question of opposition does not exist among affected producers under this article, the operation of this article shall continue in effect without a referendum.
(2)If the secretary finds after the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 6047.20 that a substantial question of opposition exists among affected producers under this article regarding whether the operation of this article should be continued, the secretary shall submit the article for approval using the following voting procedures set forth in this section and Sections 6047.22 to 6047.27, inclusive. If the secretary determines the requirement for referendum has been met, the secretary shall establish a list of persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article.
(3)As used in this subdivision, substantial question of opposition means opposition to the substance of the petition among currently affected producers and is not intended to mean a particular number of producers.
(b)Eligibility shall be limited to the producers, processors, and persons who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.
(c)(1)In establishing the list, the secretary may require processors, producers, and others to submit the names, mailing addresses, and assessment values of all producers who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.
(2)The information required by the secretary shall be filed either with the annual assessment report information submitted to the department pursuant to Sections 55601.5 and 55601.6 or no later than 30 days following receipt of a written notice from the secretary requesting the information.
(d)Any producer whose name does not appear on the secretarys list may have their name added to the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying them themselves as a producer that paid an assessment during the most recent marketing season.
SEC. 10.Section 6047.22 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.22.For the purpose of voting in the referendum required in Section 6047.20, 6047.21, only a person required to pay the assessment pursuant to Section 6047.8 shall have the right to vote.
SEC. 11.Section 6047.23 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.23.In determining whether this article shall become inoperative, the secretary shall find that at least 40 percent of the total number of persons from the list established by the secretary participated in the referendum, and that either one of the following occurred:
(a)65 Sixty-five percent or more of the persons who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this article, and the persons who voted paid a majority of the assessment dollars on grapes in the preceding marketing season that were paid by all the persons who voted in the referendum.
(b)A majority of the persons who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this article, and the persons who voted paid 65 percent or more of the assessment dollars on grapes in the preceding marketing season that were paid by all the persons who voted in the referendum.
SEC. 12.Section 6047.27 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.27.(a)(1)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote as provided in this article has not been given subsequent to the operative date of the amendments to this section adopted in 2024, given, this article article, except as provided in Sections 6047.29 and 6047.31, shall become inoperative as of March 1, 2026. 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
(b)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify and give notice of the favorable vote to all persons whose names and addresses may be on file with the secretary as provided in Section 6047.21.
SEC. 13.Section 6047.29 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.29.(a)The secretary shall appoint an advisory task force consisting of scientific experts, including, but not limited to, university researchers and agricultural representatives, for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease. disease and other designated pests and diseases.
(b)Members of the advisory task force, or alternate members when acting as members, may be reimbursed, upon request, for necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(c)Notwithstanding Sections 6047.20 and 6047.27, this section shall remain in effect until March 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before March 1, 2031, deletes or extends that date.(c)Notwithstanding Section 6047.27, if this article becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27 as a result of the secretary making a finding that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given, this section shall become inoperative on March 1 on the fifth calendar year following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.
SEC. 14.Section 6047.31 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:6047.31.If this article becomes inoperative pursuant to Section 6047.27, this article shall be repealed as of January 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year that Section 6047.29 becomes inoperative.
SEC. 15.The Legislature finds and declares that Sections 6047.5 and 6047.13 of the Food and Agricultural Code, which are extended pursuant to Section 6 of this act, which amends Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code, impose a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:
In order to protect the personal and financial information of a person subject to the act, it is necessary that this act limit the publics right of access to that information.
SECTION 1.Section 6046 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6046.(a)There is hereby created in the department the Pierces Disease Control Program.(b)The secretary shall appoint a statewide coordinator and provide an appropriate level of support staffing and logistical support for combating Pierces disease and its vectors.(c)(1)There is hereby created the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.(2)The account shall consist of money transferred from the General Fund and money made available from federal, industry, and other sources. Money made available from federal, industry, and other sources shall be available for expenditure without regard to fiscal year for the purpose of combating Pierces disease or its vectors and for the purpose described in Section 6047.30. State general funds to be used for research shall be expended only when the secretary has received commitments from nonstate sources for at least a 25-percent match for each state dollar to be expended.(d)The funds appropriated pursuant to this section to the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund for the purpose of combating Pierces disease and its vectors shall be used for costs that are incurred by the state or by local entities for the purpose of research and other efforts to combat Pierces disease and its vectors.(e)Whenever, in any county, funds are allocated by the department for local assistance regarding Pierces disease and its vectors, those funds shall be made available to a local public entity, or local public entities, designated by that countys board of supervisors.(f)Funds appropriated for local assistance shall not be allocated to the local public entity until the local public entity creates a Pierces disease work plan that is approved by the department. Any funds allocated by the department to a designated local public entity shall be used for activities consistent with the local Pierces disease work plan or other programs or work plans approved by the department. It shall be the responsibility of the designated local public entity to develop and implement the local Pierces disease work plan. Upon request, the department shall provide consultation to the local public entity regarding its work plan.(g)The work plan created by the designated local public entity shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of producer outreach information and training to local communities, groups, and individuals to organize their involvement with the work plan and to raise awareness regarding Pierces disease and its vectors.(2)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of ongoing training of the designated local public entitys employees in the biology, survey, and treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors.(3)The identification within the designated local public entity of a local Pierces disease coordinator.(4)The proposed treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors. A treatment program shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations and shall be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.(5)In coordination with the department, the development and implementation of a data collection system to track and report new infestations of Pierces disease and its vectors in a manner respectful of property and other rights of those affected.(h)On an annual basis, while funds appropriated by this section are available for encumbrance, the department shall review the progress of each local public entitys activities regarding Pierces disease and its vectors and, as needed, make recommendations regarding those activities to the local public entity.(i)This article shall become inoperative on March 1, 2036, and, as of January 1, 2037, is repealed.SEC. 2.Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.19.(a)On or before December 31 of every year, the secretary, after consultation with the board, shall make publicly available on the departments internet website, a report on the status of this article and Article 8 (commencing with Section 6045), including, but not limited to, program expenditures, progress, and ongoing priorities in combating Pierces disease and its vectors in California for the previous calendar year.(b)The report shall include a financial accounting, including the distribution of industry assessments and any unexpended amount on deposit, of the departments efforts to contain Pierces disease and its vectors.(c)If this article does not become inoperative on an earlier date pursuant to Section 6047.20 or 6047.27, this article shall become inoperative on March 1, 2036, and as of January 1, 2037, is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 6047.20 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.20.This article shall become inoperative as of March 1, 2031, unless the secretary finds, in a referendum conducted by the secretary, or a person designated by the secretary, subsequent to the operative date of the amendments to this section adopted in 2026, that a favorable vote has been given pursuant to this article.SEC. 4.Section 6047.21 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.21.(a)No later than April 15, 2030, the secretary shall establish a list of those persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article.(b)Eligibility shall be limited to the producers, processors, and persons who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding season.(c)(1)In establishing the list, the secretary may require processors, producers, and others to submit the names, mailing addresses, and assessment values of all producers who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.(2)The information required by the secretary shall be filed either with the annual assessment report or no later than 30 days following receipt of a written notice from the secretary requesting the information.(d)Any producer whose name does not appear on the secretarys list may have their name added to the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying them as a producer that paid an assessment during the most recent marketing season.SEC. 5.Section 6047.27 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.27.(a)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote as provided in this article has not been given subsequent to the operative date of the amendments to this section adopted in 2026, this article shall become inoperative as of March 1, 2031.(b)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify and give notice of the favorable vote to all persons whose names and addresses may be on file with the secretary as provided in Section 6047.21.SEC. 6.Section 6047.29 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.29.(a)The secretary shall appoint an advisory task force consisting of scientific experts, including, but not limited to, university researchers and agricultural representatives, for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease.(b)Members of the advisory task force, or alternate members when acting as members, may be reimbursed, upon request, for necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.(c)Notwithstanding Sections 6047.20 and 6047.27, this section shall become inoperative on March 1, 2036, and as of January 1, 2037, is repealed.SEC. 7.The Legislature finds and declares that Sections 6047.5 and 6047.13 of the Food and Agricultural Code, which are authorized to be extended pursuant to Sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act, impose a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:In order to protect the personal and financial information of a person subject to the act, it is necessary that this act limit the publics right of access to that information.(a)There is hereby created in the department the Pierces Disease Control Program.
(b)The secretary shall appoint a statewide coordinator and provide an appropriate level of support staffing and logistical support for combating Pierces disease and its vectors.
(c)(1)There is hereby created the Pierces Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund.
(2)The account shall consist of money transferred from the General Fund and money made available from federal, industry, and other sources. Money made available from federal, industry, and other sources shall be available for expenditure without regard to fiscal year for the purpose of combating Pierces disease or its vectors and for the purpose described in Section 6047.30. State general funds to be used for research shall be expended only when the secretary has received commitments from nonstate sources for at least a 25-percent match for each state dollar to be expended.
(d)The funds appropriated pursuant to this section to the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund for the purpose of combating Pierces disease and its vectors shall be used for costs that are incurred by the state or by local entities for the purpose of research and other efforts to combat Pierces disease and its vectors.
(e)Whenever, in any county, funds are allocated by the department for local assistance regarding Pierces disease and its vectors, those funds shall be made available to a local public entity, or local public entities, designated by that countys board of supervisors.
(f)Funds appropriated for local assistance shall not be allocated to the local public entity until the local public entity creates a Pierces disease work plan that is approved by the department. Any funds allocated by the department to a designated local public entity shall be used for activities consistent with the local Pierces disease work plan or other programs or work plans approved by the department. It shall be the responsibility of the designated local public entity to develop and implement the local Pierces disease work plan. Upon request, the department shall provide consultation to the local public entity regarding its work plan.
(g)The work plan created by the designated local public entity shall include, but is not be limited to, all of the following:
(1)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of producer outreach information and training to local communities, groups, and individuals to organize their involvement with the work plan and to raise awareness regarding Pierces disease and its vectors.
(2)In coordination with the department, the development and delivery of ongoing training of the designated local public entitys employees in the biology, survey, and treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors.
(3)The identification within the designated local public entity of a local Pierces disease coordinator.
(4)The proposed treatment of Pierces disease and its vectors. A treatment program shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations and shall be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
(5)In coordination with the department, the development and implementation of a data collection system to track and report new infestations of Pierces disease and its vectors in a manner respectful of property and other rights of those affected.
(h)On an annual basis, while funds appropriated by this section are available for encumbrance, the department shall review the progress of each local public entitys activities regarding Pierces disease and its vectors and, as needed, make recommendations regarding those activities to the local public entity.
(i)This article shall become inoperative on March 1, 2031, and as of January 1, 2032, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2032, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.(i)This article shall become inoperative on March 1, 2036, and, as of January 1, 2037, is repealed.
SEC. 2.Section 6047.19 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.19.(a)On or before December 31 of every year, the secretary, after consultation with the board, shall make publicly available on the departments internet website, a report on the status of this article and Article 8 (commencing with Section 6045), including, but not limited to, program expenditures, progress, and ongoing priorities in combating Pierces disease and its vectors in California for the previous calendar year.
(b)The report shall include a financial accounting, including the distribution of industry assessments and any unexpended amount on deposit, of the departments efforts to contain Pierces disease and its vectors.
(c)If this article does not become inoperative on an earlier date pursuant to Section 6047.20 or 6047.27, this article shall remain in effect only until become inoperative on March 1, 2031, 2036, and in any case is repealed as of that date, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before March 1, 2031, deletes or extends that date. as of January 1, 2037, is repealed.
SEC. 3.Section 6047.20 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.20.This article shall become inoperative as of March 1, 2026, 2031, unless the secretary finds, in a referendum conducted by the secretary, or a person designated by the secretary, subsequent to the operative date of the amendments to this section adopted in 2024, 2026, that a favorable vote has been given pursuant to this article.
SEC. 4.Section 6047.21 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.21.(a)No later than April 15, 2025, 2030, the secretary shall establish a list of those persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article.
(b)Eligibility shall be limited to the producers, processors, and persons who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding season.
(c)(1)In establishing the list, the secretary may require processors, producers, and others to submit the names, mailing addresses, and assessment values of all producers who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in the immediately preceding marketing season.
(2)The information required by the secretary shall be filed either with the annual assessment report or no later than 30 days following receipt of a written notice from the secretary requesting the information.
(d)Any producer whose name does not appear on the secretarys list may have their name added to the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying them as a producer that paid an assessment during the most recent marketing season.
SEC. 5.Section 6047.27 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.27.(a)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote as provided in this article has not been given subsequent to the operative date of the amendments to this section adopted in 2024, 2026, this article shall become inoperative as of March 1, 2026. 2031.
(b)If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify and give notice of the favorable vote to all persons whose names and addresses may be on file with the secretary as provided in Section 6047.21.
SEC. 6.Section 6047.29 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:6047.29.(a)The secretary shall appoint an advisory task force consisting of scientific experts, including, but not limited to, university researchers and agricultural representatives, for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierces disease.
(b)Members of the advisory task force, or alternate members when acting as members, may be reimbursed, upon request, for necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
(c)Notwithstanding Sections 6047.20 and 6047.27, this section shall remain in effect until become inoperative on March 1, 2031, 2036, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before March 1, 2031, deletes or extends that date. January 1, 2037, is repealed.
SEC. 7.The Legislature finds and declares that Sections 6047.5 and 6047.13 of the Food and Agricultural Code, which are authorized to be extended pursuant to Sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act, impose a limitation on the publics right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:
In order to protect the personal and financial information of a person subject to the act, it is necessary that this act limit the publics right of access to that information.
SECTION 1.Section 132655 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:132655.The governing board of the authority shall comprise one representative from each of the following entities to be appointed by the governing board, mayor, or supervisor of each entity:(a)The Bay Area Rapid Transit District.(b)The City of Dublin.(c)The City of Lathrop.(d)The City of Livermore.(e)The City of Manteca.(f)The City of Pleasanton.(g)The City of Stockton.(h)The City of Tracy.(i)The County of Alameda.(j)The County of San Joaquin.(k)The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority.(l)The City of Mountain House.(m)The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission.(n)The City of Danville.(o)The City of San Ramon.SEC. 2.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code. REVISIONS: HeadingLine 3.The governing board of the authority shall be composed of comprise one representative from each of the following entities to be appointed by the governing board, mayor, or supervisor of each entity:
(a)The Bay Area Rapid Transit District.
(b)The City of Dublin.
(c)The City of Lathrop.
(d)The City of Livermore.
(e)The City of Manteca.
(f)The City of Pleasanton.
(g)The City of Stockton.
(h)The City of Tracy.
(i)The County of Alameda.
(j)The County of San Joaquin.
(k)The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority.
(l)The Mountain House Community Services District. City of Mountain House.
(m)The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission.
(n)The City of Danville.
(o)The City of San Ramon.
SEC. 2.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 498, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug 20, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.). |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6136.). |
| Aug 11, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
| Aug 10, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.). |
| Aug 10, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5320.). |
| Aug 4, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. |
| Aug 3, 2026 | From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar. |
| Jun 24, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 16, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Jun 8, 2026 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on AGRI. |
| May 6, 2026 | Referred to Coms. on AGRI. and JUD. |
| Jan 27, 2026 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 3829.) |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jan 22, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. |
| Jan 22, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 22). |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3806.) |
| Jan 14, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (January 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jan 14, 2026 | Coauthors revised. |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on AGRI. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96. |
| Jan 5, 2026 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 27, 2025 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Feb 10, 2025 | Referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Jan 14, 2025 | From printer. May be heard in committee February 13. |
| Jan 13, 2025 | Read first time. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2026 | AB 230 Ransom Concurrence in Senate Amendments | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 10, 2026 | Consent Calendar 2nd AB230 Ransom et al. | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jun 23, 2026 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
|
| Jun 16, 2026 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture |
Passed |
|
| Jan 26, 2026 | AB 230 Ransom Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jan 22, 2026 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jan 14, 2026 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| California Association Of Winegrape Growers | ** Support | |
| California Fresh Fruit Association | ** Support | |
| Family Winemakers Of California | ** Support | |
| Wine Institute | ** Support |
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
CSA1 Bill Id:AB 230
Author:(Ransom)
As Amended Ver:June 8, 2026
Majority vote
SUMMARY
This bill would extend the Pierce's Disease Control Program within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the Pierce's Disease Management Account within the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund indefinitely. The bill would state the provisions of this bill will become inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of CDFA finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board. The bill also would change the name of the Pierce's Disease and Glassy Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) Board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
Senate Amendments
Delete the sunset of March 1, 2036, and instead continue the program indefinitely. They would also rename the GWSS Board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board and expand the scope of the program to include other designated pests and diseases.
COMMENTS
The GWSS Program was created in 2000 after the passage of SB 671, Chapter 21 Statutes of 2000, and has been reauthorized in statute and by affirmative vote of assessed growers 5 times since. It was originally conceived as a means to combat GWSS, it has since expanded to address other pest issues such as vine mealybug (planococcus ficus)and red blotch virus. These amendments would avoid having to revisit authorization every five years and would instead require the Secretary to hold a hearing to determine if “substantial opposition exists” and if it does, then hold a referendum. This would save the program money as conducting referenda is not without significant expense.
According to the Author
"[This bill] reaffirms California's commitment to safeguarding winegrapes from invasive pests and emerging threats to winegrape health by renaming the board the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, a title that better reflects its broad mission and responsibilities. The bill also ensures the continued operation of these successful programs by removing the sunset date, providing the stability and long-term certainty needed to protect California vineyards for generations to come."
Arguments in Support
From the California Association of Winegrape Growers, Family Winemakers of California and the Wine Institute:
"Continuing the Program and the Board would allow the wine industry, a notable economic driver in California, to continue to research, control, contain, and inspect with the goal of protecting California vineyards from pests and disease."
From the California Fresh Fruit Association:
"Continued authorization ensures that growers can maintain the momentum of innovation and protection that has been built over the past decades."
Arguments in Opposition
None on File.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill, pursuant to Seante Rule 28.8, will have negligible state costs.
VOTES:
ASM AGRICULTURE: 8-0-0
YES: Soria, Alanis, Aguiar-Curry, Connolly, Jeff Gonzalez, Hadwick, Irwin, Ransom
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 15-0-0
YES: Wicks, Hoover, Stefani, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Bauer-Kahan, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0-4
YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, 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, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas
ABS, ABST OR NV: Arambula, Papan, Celeste Rodriguez, Ta
SENATE FLOOR: 39-0-1
YES: Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
ABS, ABST OR NV: Alvarado-Gil
UPDATED
VERSION: June 8, 2026
CONSULTANT: Jim Houston / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN: 0003432
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-4171 | AB 230 |
CONSENT
Bill No: AB 230
Author: Ransom (D), et al.
Amended: 6/8/26 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE: 4-0, 6/16/26
AYES: Caballero, Alvarado-Gil, McNerney, Padilla
NO VOTE RECORDED: Ashby
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 13-0, 6/23/26
AYES: Umberg, Niello, Allen, Ashby, Caballero, Durazo, Laird, Reyes, Stern, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0, 1/26/26 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Pest control: Pierce’s disease
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST:
1) This bill extends the Pierce’s Disease Control Program within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the Pierce’s Disease Management Account within the CDFA Fund indefinitely. 2) This bill states the provisions of the bill will become inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of CDFA finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board. 3) This bill also changes the name of the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
ANALYSIS: Existing law:
- Establishes the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP) within the CDFA. PDCP was established to slow the spread of the glassy-winged sharpshooter and minimize the impact of Pierce’s Disease in California (Food and Agricultural Code Section § 6046).
- Establishes the Pierce’s Disease Management Account to allow certain money to be used to combat Pierce’s disease and its vectors.
- States the PDCP and the Pierce’s Disease Management Account shall become inoperative on March 1, 2031, and as of January 1, 2032, is repealed unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2032, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
- Creates the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board to help further the interests of the industry concerned. Existing law prescribes the functions and repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031 (Food and Agricultural Code Section § 6047.3).
- Establishes that producers, handlers, or processors who are directly affected by a marketing order may vote under the California Marketing Act using a referendum method.
- States approval of a referendum requires a specified percentage of the number of producers or handlers and a specified percentage of the volume of the commodity produced or handled during a given period.
- Under the referendum procedure, a 30-day voting period is allowed with an extension not to exceed 15 days[1].
This bill:
- Changes the name of the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Boad to the Winegrape Pest and disease Prevention Board.
- Extends the operation of the PDCP and the Pierce’s Disease Management Account within CDFA indefinitely, except that this bill makes these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
- States no later than June 30, 2030, the Secretary shall hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of this article should be continued. Thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct the review process as necessary, but not less frequent than once every five years.
- States if the Secretary finds a substantial question of opposition does not exist among affected producers under this article, the operation of this article shall continue in effect without a referendum.
- States if the Secretary finds after a hearing that a substantial question of opposition exists among affected producers under this article regarding whether the operation of this article should be continued, the Secretary shall submit the article for approval using the following voting procedures set forth in this section and Sections 6047.22 to 6047.27, inclusive:
- If the secretary determines the requirement for referendum has been met, the secretary shall establish a list of persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article.
- As used in this subdivision, “substantial question of opposition” means opposition to the substance of the petition among currently affected producers and is not intended to mean a particular number of producers.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 8/3/26)
CA Assn of Winegrape Growers
Family Winemakers of California
Wine Institute
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/3/26)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author:
“California produces some of the highest quality winegrapes in the world, supporting thousands of jobs, local communities, and a globally recognized industry. To protect the health of winegrapes across California, the Pierce’s Disease Control Program and the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board have helped protect California vineyards from devastating pests and diseases, preserving both growers’ livelihoods and the state’s agricultural heritage. The board and program have expanded to include far more than Pierce’s Disease prevention since their inception.
These programs are a shining example of the success of a strong public-private partnership between the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the winegrape producers who help guide and support these prevention and response efforts. AB 230 reaffirms California’s commitment to safeguarding winegrapes from invasive pests and emerging threats to winegrape health by renaming the board the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, a title that better reflects its broad mission and responsibilities. The bill also ensures the continued operation of these successful programs by removing the sunset date, providing the stability and long-term certainty needed to protect California vineyards for generations to come.”
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0, 1/26/26
AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, 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, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas
NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Papan, Celeste Rodriguez, Ta
Prepared by: Reichel Everhart / AGRI. / (916) 651-1508
8/5/26 14:57:34
**** END ****
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/mkt/mkt/refstats/ ↑
Senator Thomas Umberg, Chair
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill No: AB 230 (Author:Ransom)
Version: June 8, 2026
Hearing Date: June 23, 2026
Fiscal: Yes
Urgency: No
Consultant: AM
SUBJECT
Pest control: Pierce’s disease
DIGEST
This bill deletes the sunset date on the Pierce’s Disease Control Program in the California Department of Food and Agriculture, thereby extending the program indefinitely.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDC) Program was enacted in 2001 to fight the spread of GWSS, which carries the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa and, which in turn, causes Pierce’s Disease (PD) in grapes, almonds, oleander, and citrus fruits. A plant that develops PD will either die or become unproductive because its ability to draw in moisture is hindered. The principal policy matter drawing this bill into the purview of the Senate Judiciary Committee is the inclusion of a provision that restricts access to public records. California generally recognizes that public access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right. At the same time, the state recognizes that this right must be balanced against the right to privacy. By extending the PDC Program indefinitely, the bill extends certain statutes that contain a limitation on the access to public records.
The bill is sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers, Family Winemakers of California, and the Wine Institute and supported by the California Fresh Fruit Association. No timely opposition was received by this Committee. The bill passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on a vote of 4 to 0.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAW
Existing law:
- Establishes the Pierce’s Disease Control (PDC) Program in the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), which becomes inoperative on March 1, 2026 and is repealed on January 1, 2027. (Food & Ag. Code §§ 6047.1 et. seq.; § 6047.19(c).)
- Requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture (Secretary) to create the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board (Board), as provided, and specifies the powers of the Board. (Food & Ag. Code § 6047.3 & 6047.4.)
- Provides that data and related information and materials produced during the course of research conducted pursuant to the PDC Program that are in the possession of CDFA, the Board, or any entity engaged in research funded by the PDC Program, is confidential and cannot be released for any purpose, except to the extent that they are included in any final publication of research, or except when required by a court order after a hearing in a judicial proceeding involving the PDC Program. (Food & Ag. Code § 6047.5(b).)
- Provides that all proprietary information obtained by the Board or CDFA from producers, processors, or any other source is confidential and cannot be disclosed, except when required by a court order issued upon a showing of good cause and that the information is necessary to a judicial proceeding involving the PDC Program.
- Disclosure permitted above must be conducted in camera by the court.
- Requires the court, in its discretion, to issue orders restraining a party or parties to a judicial proceeding involving the PDC Program from disseminating any proprietary information to the public or any other person not a party to that judicial proceeding. (Food & Ag. Code § 6047.13(a).)
- Provides, pursuant to the California Constitution, that the people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business, and, therefore, the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies are required to be open to public scrutiny. (Cal. const. art. I, § 3(b)(1).)
- Requires a statute to be broadly construed if it furthers the people’s right of access, and narrowly construed if it limits the right of access. (Cal. const. art. I, § 3(b)(1).)
- Requires a statute that limits the public’s right of access to be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. (Cal. const. art. I, § 3(b)(1).)
- Governs the disclosure of information collected and maintained by public agencies pursuant to the CPRA. (Gov. Code §§ 792.000 et seq.)
- States that, the Legislature, mindful of the right of individuals to privacy, finds and declares that access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state. (Gov. Code § 7921.000.)
- Defines “public records” as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. (Gov. Code § 7920.530.)
- Defines “public agency” as any state or local agency. (Gov. Code § 7920.525(a).)
- Provides that all public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of a state or local agency and every person has a right to inspect any public record, unless the record is exempt from public disclosure. Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be available for inspection by any person requesting the record after deletion of the portions that are exempted by law. (Gov. Code § 7922.525.)
- Some records are prohibited from being disclosed and other records are permissively exempted from being disclosed. (See e.g. Gov. Code §§ 7920.505 & 7922.200.)
- There are several general categories of documents or information that are permissively exempt from disclosure under the CPRA essentially due to the character of the information. The exempt information can be withheld by the public agency with custody of the information, but it also may be disclosed if it is shown that the public’s interest in disclosure outweighs the public’s interest in non-disclosure of the information. (CBS, Inc. v. Block (1986) 42 Cal.3d 646, at 652.).
This bill:
- Extends the PDC Program indefinitely.
- Renames the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
- Makes various other change to the PDC program.
COMMENTS
- Author statement
The author writes:
California produces some of the highest quality grapes found anywhere in the world, and it is thanks to the tireless work of the Pierce’s Disease Control Program and the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board that our grapevines have been protected against devastating pests for decades. These programs represent a robust public-private partnership between our Department of Food and Agriculture and the producers who rely on the work of the Board to safeguard their harvests from costly outbreaks. AB 230 reaffirms California’s commitment to protecting winegrapes from harmful invasive pests and supporting successful prevention efforts by renaming the board the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board to better reflect its role in combating pests and other threats to winegrapes.
- Bill extends statutes indefinitely that provide a limitation on the access to public records
The principal policy matter drawing this bill into the purview of the Senate Judiciary Committee is the inclusion of a provision that restricts access to public records.
Access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state. (Gov. Code § 7921.000.) In 2004, the right of public access was enshrined in the California Constitution with the passage of Proposition 59 (Nov. 3, 2004, statewide general election),[1] which amended the California Constitution to specifically protect the right of the public to access and obtain government records: “The people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business, and therefore . . . the writings of public officials and agencies shall be open to public scrutiny.” (Cal. Const., art. I, sec. 3 (b)(1).) In 2014, voters approved Proposition 42 (Jun. 3, 2014, statewide direct primary election)[2] to further increase public access to government records by requiring local agencies to comply with the CPRA and the Ralph M. Brown Act[3], and with any subsequent statutory enactment amending either act, as provided. (Cal. Const., art. I, sec. 3 (b)(7).)
Under the CPRA, public records are open to inspection by the public at all times during the office hours of the agency, unless exempted from disclosure. (Gov. Code § 7922.252.) A public record is defined as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any public agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. (Gov. Code § 7920.530.) There are several general categories of documents or information that are permissively exempt from disclosure under the CPRA essentially due to the character of the information. The exempt information can be withheld by the public agency with custody of the information, but it also may be disclosed if it is shown that the public’s interest in disclosure outweighs the public’s interest in non-disclosure of the information. (CBS, Inc. v. Block (1986) 42 Cal.3d 646, at 652.). Additionally, some records are prohibited from disclosure or are specifically stated to not be public records. (see Gov. Code § 7924.110(a).)
Section 6047.5 of the Food and Agriculture Code provides that data and related information and materials produced during the course of research conducted pursuant to the PDC Program that are in the possession of CDFA, the Board, or any entity engaged in research funded pursuant to the PDC Program, is confidential and cannot be released for any purpose, except as specified. Additionally, Section 6047.13 of the Food and Agriculture Code provides that all proprietary information obtained by the Board or CDFA from producers, processors, or any other source is confidential and cannot be disclosed, except when required by a court order issued upon a showing of good cause and that the information is necessary to a judicial proceeding involving the PDC Program. By extending the PDC Program indefinitely, this bill extends this limitation on the access to public records indefinitely.
The bill provides findings and declarations regarding the need for this limitation on the access to public records, stating it is necessary to protect the personal and financial information of a person who provides information to the PDC Program. In light of the sensitive nature of the information shared with the PDC program, this limitation on the access to public records seems warranted.
- Statements in support
The sponsors of the bill write in support stating:
The above organizations are pleased to support AB 230 to extend the sunset date for the Pierce’s Disease Control Program and the Pierce’s Disease / Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). […]
AB 230 would allow the wine industry, a notable economic driver in California, to continue to research, control, contain, and inspect with the goal of protecting California vineyards from pests and disease.
SUPPORT
California Association of Winegrape Growers (sponsor)
Family Winemakers of California (sponsor)
Wine Institute (sponsor)
California Fresh Fruit Association
OPPOSITION
None received
RELATED LEGISLATION
Pending Legislation: None known.
Prior Legislation: AB 1861 (Addis, Ch. 197, Stats. 2024) extended the PDC Program until January 1, 2031.
PRIOR VOTES
Senate Agriculture Committee (Ayes 4, Noes 0)
Assembly Floor (Ayes 76, Noes 0)
Assembly Appropriations Committee (Ayes 15, Noes 0)
Assembly Agriculture Committee (Ayes 8, Noes 0)
**************
Prop. 59 was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of both houses of the Legislature. (SCA 1 (Burton, Ch. 1, Stats. 2004)) ↑
Prop. 42 was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of both houses of the Legislature. (SCA 3 (Leno, Ch. 123, Stats. 2013)) ↑
The Ralph M. Brown Act is the open meetings laws that applies to local agencies. (Gov. Code §§ 59450 et. seq.) ↑
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Senator Anna Caballero, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: AB 230 Hearing Date: 6/16/26
Author: | Ransom | ||
Version: | 1/5/26 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Reichel Everhart | ||
Subject: Pest control: Pierce’s disease
SUMMARY
:
This bill would extend the Pierce’s Disease Control Program within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the Pierce’s Disease Management Account within the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund indefinitely. The bill would state the provisions of this bill will become inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of CDFA finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board. The bill also would change the name of the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
:
Existing law:
- Establishes the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP) within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). PDCP was established to slow the spread of the glassy-winged sharpshooter and minimize the impact of Pierce’s Disease in California (Food and Agricultural Code Section 6046).
- Establishes the Pierce’s Disease Management Account to allow certain money to be used to combat Pierce’s disease and its vectors.
- States the PDCP and the Pierce’s Disease Management Account shall become inoperative on March 1, 2031, and as of January 1, 2032, is repealed unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2032, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
- Creates the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board to help further the interests of the industry concerned. Existing law prescribes the functions and repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031 (Food and Agricultural Code Section 6047.3).
- Establishes that producers, handlers, or processors who are directly affected by a marketing order may vote under the California Marketing Act using a referendum method.
- States approval of a referendum requires a specified percentage of the number of producers or handlers and a specified percentage of the volume of the commodity produced or handled during a given period.
- Under the referendum procedure, a 30-day voting period is allowed with an extension not to exceed 15 days[1].
PROPOSED LAW
:
This bill:
- Changes the name of the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Boad to the Winegrape Pest and disease Prevention Board.
- Extends the operation of the PDCP and the Pierce’s Disease Management Account within CDFA indefinitely, except that the bill would make these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.
- States no later than June 30, 2030, the Secretary shall hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of this article should be continued. Thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct the review process as necessary, but not less frequent than once every five years.
- States if the Secretary finds a substantial question of opposition does not exist among affected producers under this article, the operation of this article shall continue in effect without a referendum.
- States if the Secretary finds after a hearing that a substantial question of opposition exists among affected producers under this article regarding whether the operation of this article should be continued, the Secretary shall submit the article for approval using the following voting procedures set forth in this section and Sections 6047.22 to 6047.27, inclusive:
- If the secretary determines the requirement for referendum has been met, the secretary shall establish a list of persons eligible to vote on the continued implementation of this article.
- As used in this subdivision, “substantial question of opposition” means opposition to the substance of the petition among currently affected producers and is not intended to mean a particular number of producers.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author:
“California produces some of the highest quality winegrapes in the world, supporting thousands of jobs, local communities, and a globally recognized industry. To protect the health of winegrapes across California, the Pierce’s Disease Control Program and the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board have helped protect California vineyards from devastating pests and diseases, preserving both growers’ livelihoods and the state’s agricultural heritage. The board and program have expanded to include far more than Pierce’s Disease prevention since their inception.
These programs are a shining example of the success of a strong public-private partnership between the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the winegrape producers who help guide and support these prevention and response efforts. AB 230 reaffirms California’s commitment to safeguarding winegrapes from invasive pests and emerging threats to winegrape health by renaming the board the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, a title that better reflects its broad mission and responsibilities. The bill also ensures the continued operation of these successful programs by removing the sunset date, providing the stability and long-term certainty needed to protect California vineyards for generations to come.”
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION:
None received.
COMMENTS:
Supporters of the bill have stated continuing the Program and the Board would allow the wine industry, a notable economic driver in California, to continue to research, control, contain, and inspect with the goal of protecting California vineyards from pests and disease.
Highlighting the need for this, between April 21 and May 21 of this year, invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) insects were found on shipments of grapevines sold at select Costco locations in Northern California between April 21 and May 21.
GWSS is an invasive insect pest that spreads the bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease, a fatal grapevine disease that threatens California vineyards. The pest can also damage citrus trees, landscape plants and other crops. Early detection and rapid response are critical to preventing the pest from spreading further.
CDFA has made attempts to contact those who had purchased a grapevine(s) from Costco during that timeframe stating if they had purchased a grapevine from Costco in an affected county during that timeframe, contact your local County Agricultural Commissioner's Office right away.
The affected counties include:
Alameda County or call 510-670-5232
Butte County or call 530-552-4100
Contra Costa County or call 925-608-6600
Fresno County or call 559-600-7510
Humboldt County or call 707-441-5260
Kings County or call 559-852-2830
Marin County or call 415-473-6700
Mendocino County or call 707-234-6830
Merced County or call 209-385-7431
Monterey County or call 831-759-7325
Napa County or call 707-253-4357
Placer County or call 530-889-7372
Sacramento County or call 916-875-6603
San Joaquin County or call 209‑953‑6000
San Mateo County or call 650-363-4700
Santa Clara County or call 408-918-4600
Santa Cruz County or call 831-763-8080
Shasta County or call 530-224-4949
Solano County or call 707-784-1310
Sonoma County or call 707-565-2371
Stanislaus County or call 209-525-4730
Tulare County or call 559-684-3350
Yolo County or call 530-666-8140
Yuba County or call 530-749-5400
RELATED LEGISLATION
:
AB 1861(Chapter 197, Statutes of 2024): Extended the Pierce’s Disease Control Program to March 1, 2031 and removes the requirement that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) submit, on a bi-annual basis, a report to the Legislature and instead requires the report to be publicly available on CDFA’s website on or before December 31st each year.
SB 449 (Chapter 371, Statutes of 2019): Extended the sunset date for the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP) within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to March 1, 2026.
AB1642 (Chapter 231, Statutes of 2014): This bill extends sunset dates for provisions relating to Pierce’s Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
PRIOR ACTIONS
:
Assembly Floor: | 76 - 0 |
Assembly Appropriations Committee: | 15 - 0 |
Assembly Agriculture Committee: | 8 - 0 |
SUPPORT
:
California Association of Winegrape Growers
Family Winemakers of California
Wine Institute
-- END --
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/mkt/mkt/refstats/ ↑
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 230
Author:(Ransom)
As Amended Ver:January 5, 2026
Majority vote
SUMMARY
This bill would extend the Pierce's Disease Control (PDC) Program to March 1, 2036. Currently the program will end on March 1, 2031.
Major Provisions
Extends the PDC Program to March 1, 2036. Currently, the program will end on March 1, 2031.
COMMENTS
In the late 1990s, PD threatened to cause damage to grapes due to the arrival of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS). GWSS carries the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's Disease (PD) in grapes, almonds, oleander, and citrus fruits. When a plant develops PD, its ability to draw in moisture is hindered and the plant will either die or become unproductive.
In response, the Legislature enacted a legislative package that created the advisory task force on PD issues in 1999. In 2001, the program was created by AB 1394 (Wiggins), Chapter 103, Statutes of 2001, to fight the spread and find solutions for PD and GWSS. SB 1650 (Chesbro), Chapter 485, Statutes of 2004, made technical and substantive changes to the program, and added a referendum process for the continuance of the program and its related assessments, to be approved by a majority of the participants. The program is funded from federal and industry funds, and grape grower's assessments.
California's wine industry is a notable economic driver in California, creating jobs, encouraging tourism, and ensuring the preservation of agricultural land. Winegrapes are susceptible to a range of diseases that are deadly to the vines. One of the most prominent of these diseases is PD, carried between plants by GWSS.
GWSS are insects that hop between leaves, spreading disease between plants upon which they feed. Sharpshooters are native to North America, like the blue-green sharpshooter—which is native to Sonoma County—and the GWSS—which is native to northern Mexico and the southeastern United States. GWSS spread from Southern California up the state in the late 1980s, and is a vector to many diseases, including PD.
According to the Author
According to the author, by extending the sunset date of this program, California grape growers and wineries will continue to be able to use the research and monitoring to defend themselves against Pierce's Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter as they have been since 2001. This is especially the case for rural and small wine producers along the Central Coast.
Arguments in Support
According to supporters, since the 1990s, PD and the GWSS have been one of the most invasive and deadly pests for winegrape vines. The disease has caused millions upon millions of damages throughout the state. In response, the legislature created the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board. This bill will allow the wine industry, a notable economic driver in California, to continue to research, control, contain, and inspect to prevent the spread of PD.
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
Ongoing annual costs to CDFA in the range of $20 million and $26 million to continue to administer the PCDP (Pierce's Disease Management Account.) These costs are almost entirely covered by federal funds and industry assessments. However, on occasion, the PDCP has received limited General Fund support. CDFA would incur an additional one-time cost in the tens of thousands of dollars to conduct the board extension referendum, also covered by industry assessments.
VOTES
ASM AGRICULTURE: 8-0-0
YES: Soria, Alanis, Aguiar-Curry, Connolly, Jeff Gonzalez, Hadwick, Irwin, Ransom
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 15-0-0
YES: Wicks, Hoover, Stefani, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Bauer-Kahan, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa
UPDATED
VERSION: January 5, 2026
CONSULTANT: Nicole Willis / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN: 0002222
Date of Hearing: January 22, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 230
Author:(Ransom) – As Amended Ver:January 5, 2026
Policy Committee: | Agriculture | Vote: | 8 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill extends the sunset on the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP) from March 1, 2031, to March 1, 2036, and makes other conforming changes.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Ongoing annual costs to CDFA in the range of $20 million and $26 million to continue to administer the PCDP (Pierce’s Disease Management Account.) These costs are almost entirely covered by federal funds and industry assessments. However, on occasion, the PDCP has received limited General Fund support. CDFA would incur an additional one-time cost in the tens of thousands of dollars to conduct the board extension referendum, also covered by industry assessments.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose. According to the author:
California produces some of the highest quality grapes found anywhere in the world, and it is thanks to the tireless work of the Pierce’s Disease Control Program and the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board that our grapevines have been protected against devastating pests for decades. These programs represent a robust public-private partnership between our Department of Food and Agriculture and the producers who rely on the work of the Board to safeguard their harvests from costly outbreaks. AB 230 continues to show our state’s commitment to protecting winegrapes from harmful invasive pests and promoting successful initiatives by extending the sunset to 2037.
2) Background. Pierce’s Disease Control Program. According to CDFA, Pierce’s Disease (PD) is a lethal disease of grapevines. PD is a serious threat to grapevines throughout the southern United States and is particularly threatening to California’s thriving winegrape industry. The bacterial pathogen which causes PD, Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), has been present in California for more than a century. While many insects can vector Xf, the establishment and spread of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) in California in the 1980s and 1990s created a new and serious threat of significant statewide damage. PDCP works to halt the spread of GWSS until research finds solutions to PD. The program is a partnership that includes CDFA, county agricultural commissioners, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the University of California, other state and local agencies, industry, and various agricultural organizations throughout the state.
Funding. Funding for the PDCP comes from three primary sources: USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, California’s winegrape growers, and, on occasion, the state’s General Fund. The enabling statute for the PDCP requires that any General Fund monies used for research be expended only when the secretary of CDFA has received commitments from non-state sources for at least a 25% match for each state dollar to be expended.
An annual, value-based assessment on winegrapes – set at a maximum rate of $3 per $1,000 in value – helps fund the PDCP. The PD/ GWSS Board advises CDFA on the best use of the assessment funds. According to CDFA, the annual assessment rate has averaged $1.40 per $1,000 of value and remains steady at $1.25 for the 2025 harvest, for the fourth year in a row. According to a 2024 CDFA report to the Legislature on the program, in fiscal year 2023-24, the winegrape assessment raised approximately $5.4 million in revenue for the program, USDA contributed approximately $16 million, and the state provided approximately $394,000.
Referendum. As required by statute, the continuation of the PDCP is subject to the approval of California winegrape growers through a referendum. The last referendum, conducted in 2025, passed with 77% approval and extended the program through 2031.
3) Prior Legislation. AB 1861 (Addis), Chapter 197, Statutes of 2024, among other things, extended the sunset on various provisions of the PDCP from March 1, 2026, to March 1, 2031.
Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: January 14, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Esmeralda Soria, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 230
Author:(Ransom) – As Amended Ver:January 05, 2026
SUBJECT: Pest control: Pierce’s disease.
SUMMARY: This bill would extend the Pierce’s Disease Control (PDC) Program to March 1, 2036. Currently the program will end on March 1, 2031. Specifically, this bill:
1) Extends the PDC Program to March 1, 2036. Currently, the program will end on March 1, 2031.
EXISTING LAW:
1) Establishes the PDC Program in the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the Pierce’s Disease (PD) Management Account in the CDFA Fund. Allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat PD and its vectors, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), and for purposes relating to other designated pests and diseases, as provided. (Food and Agriculture code (FAC) 6045)
2) Makes the PDC Program inoperative on March 1, 2036, and repeals them on January 1, 2037. (FAC 6045, 6047.19 and 6047.29).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: In the late 1990s, PD threatened to cause damage to grapes due to the arrival of GWSS. GWSS carries the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes PD in grapes, almonds, oleander, and citrus fruits. When a plant develops PD, its ability to draw in moisture is hindered and the plant will either die or become unproductive.
In response, the Legislature enacted a legislative package that created the advisory task force on PD issues in 1999. In 2001, the program was created by AB 1394 (Wiggins), Chapter 103, Statutes of 2001, to fight the spread and find solutions for PD and GWSS. SB 1650 (Chesbro), Chapter 485, Statutes of 2004, made technical and substantive changes to the program, and added a referendum process for the continuance of the program and its related assessments, to be approved by a majority of the participants. The program is funded from federal and industry funds, and grape grower's assessments.
California’s wine industry is a notable economic driver in California, creating jobs, encouraging tourism, and ensuring the preservation of agricultural land. Winegrapes are susceptible to a range of diseases that are deadly to the vines. One of the most prominent of these diseases is PD, carried between plants by GWSS.
GWSS are insects that hop between leaves, spreading disease between plants upon which they feed. Sharpshooters are native to North America, like the blue-green sharpshooter—which is native to Sonoma County—and the GWSS—which is native to northern Mexico and the southeastern United States. GWSS spread from Southern California up the state in the late 1980s, and is a vector to many diseases, including PD.
According to the author, by extending the sunset date of this program, California grape growers and wineries will continue to be able to use the research and monitoring to defend themselves against Pierce’s Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter as they have been since 2001. This is especially the case for rural and small wine producers along the Central Coast.
According to supporters, since the 1990s, PD and the GWSS have been one of the most invasive and deadly pests for winegrape vines. The disease has caused millions upon millions of damages throughout the state. In response, the legislature created the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board. This bill will allow the wine industry, a notable economic driver in California, to continue to research, control, contain, and inspect to prevent the spread of PD.
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION:
AB 1232 (Assembly Agriculture Committee), Chapter 627, Statutes of 1999, appropriated $750,000 each year for three specified fiscal years from the General Fund (GF) to CDFA for funding, on a competitive basis, PD research. The bill required the Secretary to appoint an advisory task force consisting of scientific experts to advise the Secretary on research to control and eradicate PD.
SB 671 (Chesbro), Chapter 21, Statutes of 2000, appropriated $6.9 million from GF for the purpose of researching and combating PD and its vectors.
AB 1394 (Wiggins), Chapter 103, Statutes of 2001, created the PD and Glassy Wing Sharpshooter GWSS Board.
SB 1650 (Chesbro), Chapter 485, Statutes of 2004, extended sunset dates to 2011 for provisions relating to PD and GWSS programs.
SB 295 (Chesbro), Chapter 12, Statutes of 2005, made conforming changes and clarified provisions relating to PD and GWSS programs.
SB 2 (Wiggins), Chapter 325, Statutes of 2009, extended research funding to include other significant pests and diseases. Also extended the program sunset date to 2016 for provisions relating to PD and GWSS programs.
AB 1642 (Chesbro), Chapter 231, Statutes of 2014, extended the program sunset date to 2020 for provisions relating to PD and GWSS programs.
SB 499 (McGuire), Chapter 371, Statures of 2019, extended the program sunset date to 2020 for provisions relating to PD and GWSS programs.
AB 1861 (Addis) Chapter 197, Statutes of 2024, extended the program sunset date to 2031 for provisions relating to PD and GWSS programs.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
CA Assn of Winegrape Growers
Family Winemakers of California
The Wine Institute
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
Discussed in Hearing
1MIN
Assembly Floor
1MIN
Assembly Floor
7MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture
Bill Author
