[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6656672,"mediaKeyId","5124800-e685736145619b820c03b015a51e084f","parentId",5124800,"title","Assembly committee advances bill to fund grocery stores in food deserts","audioSeconds",2771,"startMs",2755000,"endMs",5526000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124800-e685736145619b820c03b015a51e084f&start=2755&end=5526","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124800-e685736145619b820c03b015a51e084f/thumbnail_2755000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6656672/California/Assembly-committee-advances-bill-to-fund-grocery-stores-in-food-deserts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656672-f0b286545cdaff61a748b8206ab4bbd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770482220&Signature=CxSKr3OEvRaEVt2yzWaBGckxx4WB8nSaDZobKhO1pEKIIvCkidpyalX22k7X9H2fLAVL0iMmKGejcVUrc3Yki6igJX2NR3kUNLm10OecEXz9zzBcnJDtdJK0mu7VpPPe3m6kBh1ZiEhW325LN-eiCa33SPdBZ8v3QdgGZvnqhz8Jk9irbV3esEypShNDezTIlIfOaOEU7drFX~D2Pej4SvWbXylvbTSC5diqRMnLC3iqAvcHsNLfg0pHJ2Uvqak3bxOC-0txbzo9BKRBaR4PLc~BfC-~WQ-OMUWfNPR--oQp08Q5wqHXaQFqP3VG7yMMeTU5-JXy95XwMor8cAYNnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Assembly","date","2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","article","Sen. Rubio presented Senate Bill 18, the Food Affordability Act, to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture on behalf of the bill's author, proposing a Food Desert Elimination Grant Program at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to provide grants for opening or improving grocery stores in communities with limited access to fresh, affordable food.

The bill's backers, including the California Grocers Association, told the committee the program would increase access to fresh food in both rural and urban areas and help catalyze additional nonprofit and federal funding; opponents urged amendments to prioritize community-led retailers, tribal and BIPOC-owned operations, and long-term commitments from grantees.

SB 18 would authorize CDFA to award grants to grocery operators for siting and improving stores in identified food deserts and would set aside funds for technical assistance, according to testimony. Sen. Rubio said the measure aims to bring healthier food options and job opportunities to underserved neighborhoods. \"Every Californian deserves access to nutritious food,\" Sen. Rubio said during the presentation.

Taylor Truff, representing the California Grocers Association, said food insecurity affects one in five Californians and described grocery margins as narrow, arguing state grants could allow grocers to open or retrofit smaller-format stores and collaborate with nonprofit partners that have helped replicate similar projects elsewhere. \"We find an opportunity for some synergy with our nonprofit partners,\" Truff said, citing previous pilots and other states' programs as models.

Opponents including Ezer Pimentuan of the Alameda County Community Food Bank and the California Food and Farming Network said the bill, as drafted, could favor larger chains that already receive subsidies and sometimes close stores, and they urged amendments that would require community input, prioritize BIPOC- and tribal-owned businesses, and ensure long-term commitments to remain in the communities served. \"Building a grocery store doesn't address the root causes of hunger, like low wages and high food costs,\" Pimentuan said, and recommended stronger community-centered guardrails.

A commenter identifying as the executive director of the Native American Environmental Protection Coalition described tribal experience in Hoopa, where small local grocers closed after a chain entered the market; the speaker said the tribe later opened a community-focused grocery that prioritized local farmers, diabetic-appropriate items and price protections. The speaker urged community-led approaches rather than relying solely on large chains.

Committee members asked how SB 18 would interact with existing federal programs such as the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), what safeguards would ensure grantees remain in place long term, and how the department would ensure community engagement. Sponsors said federal HFFI awards and other federal funding remain available and that the bill is intended to position California to compete for those dollars; CDFA would conduct a stakeholder process and could build prioritization criteria and scoring rubrics into grant solicitations.

Assembly members from both urban and rural districts described local grocery closures and long travel distances to stores, and several said they supported the bill's intent while urging additional guardrails to protect small, local retailers. The committee voted to pass SB 18 to the Appropriations Committee. The clerk recorded the motion as passed and the committee reported the bill on a recorded vote; tally recorded in the hearing was 7 ayes, 0 no votes.

The bill now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee where advocates and opponents said they expect further negotiations over prioritization, community engagement requirements, and how state funding would be combined with federal and nonprofit resources.

Votes at a glance
SB 18 (Rubio) ' Motion: Pass to Appropriations Committee. Outcome: Approved. Recorded tally reported as 7 yes, 0 no.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Agriculture Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Rubio presented Senate Bill 18, the Food Affordability Act, to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture on behalf of the bill's author, proposing a Food Desert Elimination Grant Program at the California Department of Food and Agriculture to provide grants for opening or improving grocery stores in communities with limited access to fresh, affordable food.","taxTitle","California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California","taxId",17099,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6656665,"Committee advances bill to modernize pay process for fairgrounds managers",705,6130000,6835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124800-e685736145619b820c03b015a51e084f&start=6130&end=6835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124800-e685736145619b820c03b015a51e084f/thumbnail_6130000.jpg","/articles/6656665/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-modernize-pay-process-for-fairgrounds-managers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656665-a88ad0ac76fa42831f66d1017738aeaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770482220&Signature=CJz8oyrnlVkb1bnXVjU82t13v6~bSkqEg0UYpyZbblFRIOLTWCZ22V--AC4CHPHFX1m3nCQgcmeIrsvuIxAFFBKhcs4eL6vT81eOby20Xi1jJNxpJq1Sao0Xt-bxr5UYSO2pXrqLgUvLvmYKmU17wBL6RcW7c27l5NKPjF-BJCOrlD6GU5PtJMwjCI5naHi8RTms6K4o~naMCsTBWOwXDa1YCAzLEQYU7M~i-AvatfED5jOsgXDR39GkzNOy4tEZItIxkPEBWwwiZvd1Yu97edQ8Q5x9tslCUrdolP1nuLtFpvW8~efQEwBeGfuqO~XZZacg5KFiNB2k3TU~XqtSNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Becker presented Senate Bill 493 to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, proposing reforms to how compensation is determined for secretary managers (the chief executives) of district agricultural associations (DAAs), the state entities that operate fairgrounds and often serve as emergency response venues.

Supporters described secretary managers as emergency operations directors, grant writers and facility managers whose roles expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent disasters. Sarah Pelley, CEO of a county fairground, testified the state's 52 DAAs provided 352 days of emergency service across the network last year and contribute roughly $3 billion in annual economic activity; she said the current compensation process has not undergone a formal review and CalHR decisions have, at times, blocked board-approved salary recommendations.

SB 493 would direct the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to contract for a salary survey (funded locally) and establish compensation ranges for secretary managers, with updates every five years. Sponsors said the change would remove one layer of review by CalHR and allow the secretary of food and agriculture to act on board-approved salary recommendations more quickly. The bill also clarifies the statutory title as secretary manager.

Committee members representing rural districts said fairgrounds serve as critical hubs and cautioned that local control and timely appointments are important; sponsors said the measure focuses narrowly on compensation and does not change appointment authority for DAA boards. Supporters said turnover among managers is increasing, and standardized salary ranges would help retain and recruit qualified leaders.

The committee voted to pass SB 493 to the Appropriations Committee; members voting were recorded as unanimous in favor and the clerk reported eight ayes.

Votes at a glance
SB 493 (Becker) ' Motion: Pass to Appropriations Committee. Outcome: Approved. Recorded tally reported as 8 yes, 0 no.

","Senate Bill 493 would change how compensation is determined for secretary managers of district agricultural associations, directing CDFA to conduct salary surveys and set compensation ranges; the committee voted to send the bill to Appropriations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6656667,"Committee advances bill to require electronic health certificates for imported dogs",562,5541000,6103000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124800-e685736145619b820c03b015a51e084f&start=5541&end=6103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124800-e685736145619b820c03b015a51e084f/thumbnail_5541000.jpg","/articles/6656667/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-require-electronic-health-certificates-for-imported-dogs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6656667-630d13db2dc494ce836fe99d3af48e0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770482220&Signature=BrJYegzJ-6mJs-u907gZfd6LT0y0g6T8dQ1f9NnRU4w8EZhWkBLAtB3BEldm9NaXRR5ADP5kFb1yheg0BUXOe6F3AEPvuSWutKNTxCiHzz5PtTfDtLF5FELczqHZLd4S~2GxWg2x-Xrn7h7hzMLd7dvVxEuSGbQ5GG7oMectQRkct7XF-GGQB2b4fxW6BoZidczDsa~ucacaTwFDav2J-ynxrmjyGtsVLDsLMFnj~w4EPBVmzHRwE19BT7ZLx9YGK8OSa31CmUYF4wdfE3paNCgwMjovXoRtLbP2LFc0fErWhzBq84RvqyhP3EV05Jg3apliuU2oPaH5S1NK0hvF-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Rubio presented Senate Bill 312 on behalf of Sen. Umberg, asking the Assembly Committee on Agriculture to require that veterinarians and shippers file canine health certificates electronically with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) when dogs are imported into California.

Witnesses from the ASPCA and the San Diego Humane Society said the bill would close an enforcement gap that allows out-of-state breeders and brokers to ship dogs into California without a central, accessible record for consumers and state investigators. \"Consumers have no way to verify the origin or health status of the animals they're purchasing,\" Britney Benesci of the ASPCA told the committee.

Jennifer Fearing of the San Diego Humane Society described cases in which puppies arrived sick or with falsified paperwork and said health certificate records are needed for disease investigations, consumer protection and enforcement. She described existing federally required documents (export certificates / veterinary inspection forms) that are already generated and said many other states receive and retain copies electronically. She and other supporters committed to working with appropriations staff to address consumer privacy concerns while preserving data useful for disease control and enforcement.

No organized opposition appeared during the hearing; several animal welfare organizations registered support during public comment. Committee members from border and rural districts said the measure addressed a frequent consumer-protection issue in their communities and that the e-filing requirement would help trace sources of illness and fraud across state lines.

The committee voted to pass SB 312 to the Appropriations Committee. The clerk recorded the motion and an 8-0 vote in favor on the committee roll call.

Votes at a glance
SB 312 (Umberg) ' Motion: Pass to Appropriations Committee. Outcome: Approved. Recorded tally reported as 8 yes, 0 no.

","Senate Bill 312 would require out-of-state shippers to e-file federally required canine health certificates with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and make them available to buyers and enforcement agencies to combat misrepresentation and disease risk; the committee voted to send the bill to Appropriations.","actionData","errors"]

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Assembly committee advances bill to fund grocery stores in food deserts

Committee advances bill to modernize pay process for fairgrounds managers

Committee advances bill to require electronic health certificates for imported dogs