SB-462
Agriculture & Food

California Farmland Conservancy Program: conservation easements: funding.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a $20 million annual fund to preserve California farmland through conservation easements.
  • Creates permanent funding starting July 2025 to protect agricultural land from development.
  • Restricts funding to agricultural conservation easements except for grazing land.
  • Supports local government efforts to preserve farmland through conservation partnerships.
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)
Probability of Passing
We're working on it! Check back later.

Summary

Senator Cortese's agricultural conservation measure establishes a dedicated $20 million annual funding stream for farmland preservation easements through the California Farmland Conservancy Program. The bill creates a new Funding Account within the existing Program Fund, with annual transfers from the General Fund beginning in fiscal year 2025-26.

The legislation restricts the use of these continuously appropriated funds to agricultural conservation easements on qualifying farmland, excluding grazing lands. This builds upon the Program's current funding structure, which relies on legislative appropriations through the annual Budget Act along with federal grants and private donations. According to the bill's findings, California loses approximately 40,000 acres of agricultural land to development annually, while existing conservation easement funding has not met demand from willing landowners.

The measure aligns with local government preservation initiatives, including counties that incorporate agricultural land protection in their planning processes. The County of Sonoma exemplifies this approach through its Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, funded by voter-approved local taxes for purchasing agricultural and open-space easements. The bill's authors note that farmland generates 70 times fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to urban areas of equivalent size, positioning agricultural preservation as a component of the state's goal to conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030.

Get Involved

Act Now!

This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.

Introduced By

Dave Cortese
Dave CorteseD
California State Senator
John Laird
John LairdD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Ash Kalra
Ash KalraD
California State Assembly Member
Melissa Hurtado
Melissa HurtadoD
California State Senator

Community Outlook

No votes yet
Positive
0%
Negative
0%

Latest Voting History

April 8, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6017PASS

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Relevant Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 11 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Dave CorteseD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a $20 million annual fund to preserve California farmland through conservation easements.
  • Creates permanent funding starting July 2025 to protect agricultural land from development.
  • Restricts funding to agricultural conservation easements except for grazing land.
  • Supports local government efforts to preserve farmland through conservation partnerships.

Get Involved

Act Now!

This bill was recently introduced. Email the authors to let them know what you think about it.

Introduced By

Dave Cortese
Dave CorteseD
California State Senator
John Laird
John LairdD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Ash Kalra
Ash KalraD
California State Assembly Member
Melissa Hurtado
Melissa HurtadoD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Cortese's agricultural conservation measure establishes a dedicated $20 million annual funding stream for farmland preservation easements through the California Farmland Conservancy Program. The bill creates a new Funding Account within the existing Program Fund, with annual transfers from the General Fund beginning in fiscal year 2025-26.

The legislation restricts the use of these continuously appropriated funds to agricultural conservation easements on qualifying farmland, excluding grazing lands. This builds upon the Program's current funding structure, which relies on legislative appropriations through the annual Budget Act along with federal grants and private donations. According to the bill's findings, California loses approximately 40,000 acres of agricultural land to development annually, while existing conservation easement funding has not met demand from willing landowners.

The measure aligns with local government preservation initiatives, including counties that incorporate agricultural land protection in their planning processes. The County of Sonoma exemplifies this approach through its Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, funded by voter-approved local taxes for purchasing agricultural and open-space easements. The bill's authors note that farmland generates 70 times fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to urban areas of equivalent size, positioning agricultural preservation as a component of the state's goal to conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)
Probability of Passing
We're working on it! Check back later.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing scheduled for , 1021 O Street, Room 2200
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Senate Floor
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Community Outlook

No votes yet
Positive
0%
Negative
0%

Latest Voting History

April 8, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Natural Resources and Water Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6017PASS

Relevant Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 11 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assembly Member
Bill Author
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Melissa HurtadoD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Dave CorteseD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member