AB 230: Pest control: Pierce’s disease.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(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 indefinitely, except that the bill would make these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, as described below. By extending the operation of 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 change the name of the board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board.

This bill would extend the operation of the provisions concerning the board indefinitely, except that this bill would require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, no later than June 30, 2030, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, to hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of these provisions should be continued. If the secretary makes a specified finding after one of those hearings, the bill would require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the continued operation of the board. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given for the continued operation of the board, the bill would end the operation of the board as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held.

By extending the date until which the assessments are collected and deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2 · Republican 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 27, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 498, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 27, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 20, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. August 13, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6136.).
5. August 11, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 10, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 5320.).
7. August 4, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
8. August 3, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
9. June 24, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 16, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
11. June 8, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on AGRI.
12. May 6, 2026Referred to Coms. on AGRI. and JUD.