California Food Democracy

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Archived News:

8/24/06:  Today the CA State Assembly voted in favor of SB1056 (46-19), legislation that removes local control of community food systems. No amendments were offered and the bill now heads to back to the Senate for review. Assemblymembers Berg, Hancock, Laird, Ruskin and Goldberg rose in opposition and we are grateful for their thoughtful support.

Now is the time to contact your Senate representative and Senate pro Tem Don Perata (916) 651-4009; see "Update on SB1056 - August 2006" for an update on the bill and ways you can assist in its defeat.

8/22/06:  Update on SB1056.
An update on the bill and ways you can assist in its defeat.

6/28/06:  SB1056 Assembly Agriculture Committee Hearing
On Wednesday June 28th, the California Assembly Agriculture Committee unanimously supported SB1056. This bill strips local control of seeds, claiming the state should have sole authority of seeds and nursery stock.

6/07/06:  SB1056 hearing re-scheduled for June 28, 2006
Due to author amendments, California's seed preemption bill is now scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Agriculture Committee on June 28th. Tell your representative and the Committee not to strip your local control of foods:
      - SB1056 Talking Points
      - Take Action

4/17/06:  Authors of AB1508 Decide Not to Move Bill
Due to growing opposition to AB1508, which would have removed local control of seeds and plants, Assemblymembers Arambula and Salinas have decided to drop the bill. Opposition was received from a number of environmental and sustainable agriculture organizations as well as the California League of Counties and the California Association of Rural Counties. Senator Florez is still intent on moving a similar bill, SB1056.

3/19/06:   Update on Local Control Seed Bills, SB1056 & AB1508

9/22/05:  Sustainable Agriculture Activists Hold Off Preemption Bill:
The California Legislative session has ended and we have managed to hold off Senate Bill 1056 and AB1508, the preemption bills which would remove local control of seeds and plants. The California legislature is in a two-year session, which means we will need to hold our ground going into 2006, when the bills are certain to be heard again.

Audio recording of 6/29/05 Assembly Agriculture Committee hearing:

An audio recording of the first two agenda items of the June 29th session of the California Assembly Agriculture Committee is available here. Item 2 is the gutted/amended version of SB1056 which "clarifies that the California seed law applies to all aspects of seed regulation" (author's words,) which would pre-empt local governments from regulating [GMO] seeds.

The file is MP3 format, 7.6 MB, and 22 minutes long. Agenda item 2 begins at minute 4:39.