CaliforniaCalifornia extends food business fees and expands nutrition grant access
Meat and poultry license fees continue indefinitely, while mobile farmers’ markets may seek nutrition grants and county seed enforcement payments run longer.
What it does
Meat and poultry businesses and inspectors would continue to pay the listed license and renewal fees, with late penalties and possible license loss for unpaid fees.
Certified mobile farmers’ markets would qualify to seek nutrition grants, and the program would be run to better match available federal nutrition grants. Awards depend on having enough money in the grant account.
California would continue paying participating counties for seed law enforcement through the extended program period; counties must meet the program’s agreement and performance rules.
Argument forMore flexible federal grant alignment and eligibility for mobile markets could help nutrition benefit clients use their benefits for fresh California produce.
Argument againstBroader grant eligibility could spread limited funds among more groups, while extending county seed enforcement payments may keep local costs going longer.
More detail
Keeps meat and poultry licensing fees and renewal rules in effect without an end date. The provisions cover meat processors, custom slaughterhouses, poultry plants, and meat and processing inspectors. The fees and renewal provisions continue indefinitely.
Directs the nutrition grant program to align with federal grant programs and adds certified mobile farmers’ markets as eligible grant recipients. Certified mobile farmers’ markets must meet the statutory certification definition; other listed farmers’ market groups and qualifying small businesses remain eligible under the program rules. The program may award grants only when sufficient money is deposited in its account; federal matching funds depend on availability. No more than one-third of program funds may go to eligible small businesses that do not otherwise qualify under the farmers’ market and related entity category.
Extends the period for county payments tied to enforcing the California Seed Law. The payments support counties that choose to participate in seed law enforcement. Participating counties must enter agreements and meet the secretary’s performance standards to receive their allotted payments. The provisions become inoperative July 1, 2032, and are repealed January 1, 2036.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 31Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 174, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Aug 31Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 20Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 13Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6155.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2778 Agriculture Concurrence in Senate Amendments By SORIA. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 11In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 10Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5324.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd AB2778 AGRI. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jun 30From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 22From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on AGRI.Major
- Jun 11In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- May 20Referred to Com. on AGRI.Minor
- May 7In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 2778 Agriculture Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 66. Noes 0. Page 4968.)Passed Assembly
- Apr 30Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Apr 29From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 29).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 15
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 17Re-referred to Com. on AGRI.Minor
- Mar 16From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on AGRI. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 16Referred to Com. on AGRI.Minor
- Mar 5From printer. May be heard in committee April 4.
- Mar 4Read first time. To print.Introduced
AgricultureTaxes & BudgetGovernment & Ethics