Several months ago we reported on CalFlowers’ actions in relation to two proposed bills directly impacting floral markets in California and the nation: CA Assembly Bill 1205 and House Resolution 3019. Since that time we have actively reached out to 16 members of the California Assembly, 7 members of the California Senate and 24 members of the Cut Flower Caucus in the House of Representatives. We then followed up with phone calls and conversations with staff members from six Cut Flower Caucus members, and several Assembly and Senate offices. We even enjoyed the visits to Fun ‘N Sun of staff members from the offices of Assembly Member Limón, State Senator Jackson and Congressman Carbajal.
We are expanding our scope to study proposed legislation affecting all aspects of the California floral industry dealing with a range of business issues. As we move into 2020 we will also explore federal legislation affecting our members across the country.
Naturally, CalFlowers is not doing this alone. At the federal level CalFlowers will continue to follow SAF’s lead in governmental relations. CalFlowers is pleased to be the Platinum Sponsor for SAF’s 2020 Congressional Action Days in March in Washington, D.C. Within California, CalFlowers recently joined the Agricultural Commission of California (
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/). The Ag Commission should provide an excellent opportunity to more deeply understand legislative processes and align with other agricultural interests in the state.
We also engaged legislative bill screening services for California legislation. We receive monthly updates on the status of Assembly and Senate bills that may impact our California members. We will be working with SAF for bill screening at the Congressional level. Below is a sample of California legislation we’ve had on our radar in the past few months:
Assembly
AB 5 – Worker status; employees and independent contractors
AB 386 – Agricultural working poor energy efficient housing program
AB 409 – Climate change; agricultural climate adaption tools program; grants
AB 1205 – Cut flowers and cut greens; importation for sale; production standards
AB 1783 – H-2A worker housing; state funding; streamlined approval processes for agricultural employee housing development
Senate
SB 1 – California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act of 2019
SB 253 – Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995; Environmental Farming Incentive Program
Members’ Role in Legislative Advocacy in 2020
A survey of members’ interests will be conducted in October. This survey will ask for input on specific legislative concerns, but will also open the scope of questioning to better understand the general business concerns of CalFlowers. In other words, we don’t expect our members to be knowledgeable about state and federal legislative initiatives. So, it’s very important that you, our members, complete the survey when it comes out.
We are also happy to involve more CalFlowers members on the Industry & Governmental Relations (I&GR) Committee. If you’re interested in learning more about this committee, feel free to contact Michael LoBue at [email protected]
In the words of a lobbyist I met a couple of years ago passing through an airport: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Let’s not be on someone else’s legislative menu!
