Transformational Organic Farming Bill Package Announced by Connolly
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) introduced an organic farming package, which includes three bills that will substantially reduce barriers and obstacles faced by organic farms and farmers. AB 404 [Reporting Requirements for Organic Farmers] would require the California Department of Food and Agriculture to evaluate duplicative reporting requirements that unnecessarily burden organic farmers and streamline the pathway for these farms to gain official certification. AB 405 [Streamlining Requirements for Organic Businesses] would require California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to move from a slow, inefficient paper-based registration and payment process for organic businesses, to an online system that will serve as a one-stop destination for California’s organic farming industry. Lastly, AB 406 [Healthy Soils & Farmland Conservancy Programs] would allow organic farmers whose management practices contribute to better land quality and result in greenhouse gas reductions to apply for grants from the Healthy Soils Program and California Farmland Conservancy Program – potentially bringing millions of new grant funding to organic farming projects throughout the state.