Back to California

AB-230 • 2026

Pest control: Pierce’s disease.

Pest control: Pierce’s disease.

Agriculture Budget Education Elections Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Ransom
Last action
2026-01-27
Official status
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details about continuous appropriation beyond March 1, 2031 unless a referendum vote extends it.

Pest Control: Pierce’s Disease

This legislation extends funding and programs related to controlling Pierce's disease until March 1, 2036, with a referendum in April 2030.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the operation of the Pierce’s Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture until March 1, 2036.
  • Keeps the annual assessment paid by grape processors into a fund for research and activities related to Pierce's disease until March 1, 2031, unless a favorable referendum vote extends it further.
  • Requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish a list of eligible voters for a referendum on continuing these provisions in April 2030.
  • Extends the advisory task force appointed by the secretary to advise on Pierce’s disease control until March 1, 2036.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Grape processors who pay annual assessments into the fund for Pierce's disease control.
  • The Department of Food and Agriculture, which manages the program and funds.
  • Residents eligible to vote in a referendum on continuing the provisions related to Pierce's disease.

Terms To Know

Pierce’s Disease
A harmful plant disease that affects grape crops, spread by insects like the glassy-winged sharpshooter.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The extension of funding and programs related to Pierce's disease is contingent on a favorable referendum vote in April 2030.
  • This bill does not address changes for the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority as it was removed from the summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-27 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  2. 2026-01-26 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 3829.)

  3. 2026-01-22 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  4. 2026-01-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 22).

  5. 2026-01-22 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.

  6. 2026-01-22 California Legislative Information

    Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3806.)

  7. 2026-01-14 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (January 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  8. 2026-01-14 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  9. 2026-01-05 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on AGRI. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

  10. 2026-01-05 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  11. 2026-01-05 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.

  12. 2025-03-27 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

  13. 2025-02-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on TRANS.

  14. 2025-01-14 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 13.

  15. 2025-01-13 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 230, as amended, Ransom.
Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority: City of Mountain House.
Pest control: Pierce’s disease.
(1) Existing law establishes the Pierce’s Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Pierce’s Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Existing law allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat Pierce’s 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 Pierce’s 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 Pierce’s 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 Pierce’s 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 Pierce’s 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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF