[{"_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",6520724,"mediaKeyId","5124799-ab63172ffd412708c9eb15aedf567cde","parentId",5124799,"title","Committee approves SB 493 to let CDFA secretary set salary ranges for fairgrounds managers","audioSeconds",701,"startMs",6139000,"endMs",6840000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124799-ab63172ffd412708c9eb15aedf567cde&start=6139&end=6840","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124799-ab63172ffd412708c9eb15aedf567cde/thumbnail_6139000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520724/California/Committee-approves-SB-493-to-let-CDFA-secretary-set-salary-ranges-for-fairgrounds-managers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520724-d8f44a665de68ead491ab9d056412324/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950134&Signature=Pgf4EKa3MkcAD7vOfppVir-ba47V8yVMvKnhXHs5t0T5zhmgpLXlH5M65badg7PbzGR3CM2xslcb4gFHqd8nfDeA6fbK2gXUCVQfQ1vzUCyk-~td5lWVNEbPcu8jqPs6lkDN0-VPlA4GTneD2HtXZxpe8HgLng~NEzsj-APjgQcv~m-OCaxiJxejN~OOZ0CoCZyo5SiUeuBGt8DyVTnSMNNZSFaVZWCglVuwGd4Davu7kkNIdtDxl~Izh22kTvC-V8cbdqMci2UD6X9M0pK0jXmMToCw~7EmQ1aEI-LwVboz2QdtSREnp7lCKP07J~EX5BWFgbF1rJ1-OselB-uvxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Assembly","date","2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","article","Sen. Becker presented SB 493 to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, describing the bill as a modernization of compensation and classification for secretary managers who run district agricultural association (DAA) fairgrounds. \"These secretary managers handle all critical operations behind the scenes...they manage staff, facilities, budgets, and marketing,\" the senator said, and added that the role has grown to include emergency-response duties.

Sarah Pelley, CEO of the Yolo County Fairgrounds and speaking for the California Emergency Response Resiliency Venues and Fairgrounds, urged support and described fairgrounds' increasing role in emergency response. Pelley told the committee that fairgrounds were activated more than 43 times and open for hundreds of emergency days in the last year and that DAAs are locally self-supporting; she said SB 493 would fund a locally paid salary-survey and direct CDFA to set a compensation range with five‑year updates.

Supporters said the bill would streamline a cumbersome HR process, restore the historical role of boards and the CDFA secretary in compensation decisions, and help retain senior managers who direct emergency operations, grant writing, construction and year-round events. Witnesses said salary increases would not come from the state general fund because DAAs fund positions from locally generated revenue.

Some committee members voiced concern about local control and appointment processes; supporters responded that SB 493 covers compensation only and does not change board-appointment authority. Members also asked about timeliness and CDFA capacity to administer the change; witnesses said the bill would contract for a salary survey paid by fairgrounds and that CDFA has experience receiving similar information.

Outcome: The committee voted to move SB 493 to the Appropriations Committee. The clerk recorded eight recorded “aye” votes and zero “no” votes.

Ending: Proponents said the bill aims to reduce turnover among fairgrounds CEO/secretary managers and to recognize the public-safety and economic roles fairgrounds play; the committee advanced the bill to appropriations for further review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Agriculture Committee (1)","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Becker presented SB 493 to change how compensation for district agricultural association secretary managers (fairgrounds CEOs) is set, directing the California Department of Food and Agriculture to conduct a salary survey and for the CDFA secretary to establish salary ranges.","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},6520734,"Committee approves SB 18 to create CDFA grant program for grocery stores in food deserts",2733,2764000,5497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124799-ab63172ffd412708c9eb15aedf567cde&start=2764&end=5497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124799-ab63172ffd412708c9eb15aedf567cde/thumbnail_2764000.jpg","/articles/6520734/California/Committee-approves-SB-18-to-create-CDFA-grant-program-for-grocery-stores-in-food-deserts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520734-08a098efa48cf35bc28e884b0577a25d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950134&Signature=I-LxJwr3r5HnN0CZnMBuQ9djXPs-WVxEDZo2M06WBF8XaLaa~FEptilYNeVyg6tj0tWa-a3YlVCFJuBegU5SkDHYvxyBIRi1ZFoRt5q79IZ4zvUrWVqK0sny5Xtc3FBdwz21hMexqxXoDd~d2HaJCEcYb0W0T0B6ub4wsm9nsoCF~kJGqLUiDFA~wsiM0LEkX5WOjQuec5scxxtNw71JzC1GhMs3zVIy6r8gdpBX7MPzkhuZOLDiRJ2sfYrZeZxtTpn07nNz-LPlzVkC-v3cmk~kA4jnvFDD88v5QOaxkH8iUM1dupT0CWzGyigNLih3S-5nJx86jUoxAnI5O2T0Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Rubio, presenting SB 18 — described in committee as the Food Affordability Act — told the Assembly Committee on Agriculture that the bill would create a statewide grant program to help open new grocery stores and improve existing stores in communities the bill identifies as food deserts. \"This important bill will help California families struggling with the cost of groceries by ensuring that Californians living in food desert communities have access to affordable healthy food options,\" Sen. Rubio said.

The bill would authorize the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to award grants to grocery-store operators for siting, retrofitting or expanding stores in underserved neighborhoods. Taylor Triffel, representing the California Grocers Association (CGA), described the measure as a way to \"fill this gap by supporting the siting and improvements of existing grocery stores and food deserts where access is limited or nonexistent,\" and said the program would build on CDFA efforts such as the healthy refrigeration program and existing farm-to-school work.

Why it matters: supporters framed SB 18 as a two-part public-interest measure — increasing access to fresh food while supporting local economic activity. Triffel told the committee that food insecurity affects \"1 in every 5 Californians\" and said urban and rural communities both have areas with little or no supermarket access. She also said the program is intended to help California compete for federal and private funds that support grocery development.

Opponents argued the bill as written risks unintended consequences and could favor large chains over community-led solutions. Ezer Pimentuan, for the Alameda County Community Food Bank and the California Food and Farming Network, testified in opposition unless amended, listing three central concerns: (1) food insecurity is driven by low wages and high costs, not only distance to stores; (2) the bill lacks required community input and accountability; and (3) grants to large chains could displace small grocers, farmers and community-owned markets.

Native American and tribal advocates described past cases where the arrival of a chain led to closures of local, independently owned stores and left communities with reduced options. One tribal witness said their tribe subsequently developed a locally run grocery that purchases from tribal and nontribal farmers, carries culturally relevant foods and holds prices on essential items.

Committee questions centered on guardrails, community engagement and federal funding. The author and witnesses said CDFA would develop the program details through an RFP and stakeholder process; they also said California would be competitive for federal Health Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) dollars and that the federal program remains available (witnesses said roughly $16,000,000 had been distributed in an initial federal round). The committee heard that the draft bill includes a 10% set‑aside for technical assistance to help smaller operators with feasibility, permitting and planning.

Outcome: The committee moved SB 18 out to the Appropriations Committee on a voice/roll-call vote. The clerk recorded seven recorded “aye” votes and zero “no” votes in committee.

Context and next steps: If adopted into law, CDFA would implement the program through grant guidance and an application process; supporters and opponents said they expect a rulemaking and stakeholder process at CDFA to define community engagement standards, scoring rubrics and long-term commitments from grantees. Several members asked the author and sponsors to continue negotiations with community groups and labor representatives on amendments to strengthen local ownership, tribal priorities and community input.

Ending: The committee recommendation advances SB 18 to the Appropriations Committee. Sponsors and opponents signaled willingness to continue talks about guardrails and equity priorities during the regulatory and appropriations stages.","Sen. Rubio, presenting SB 18 — described in committee as the Food Affordability Act — told the Assembly Committee on Agriculture that the bill would create a statewide grant program to help open new grocery stores and improve existing stores in communities the bill identifies as food deserts.",{"_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},6520729,"Committee advances SB 312 to require electronic filing of dog health certificates for out‑of‑state shipments",578,5536000,6114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5124799-ab63172ffd412708c9eb15aedf567cde&start=5536&end=6114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5124799-ab63172ffd412708c9eb15aedf567cde/thumbnail_5536000.jpg","/articles/6520729/California/Committee-advances-SB-312-to-require-electronic-filing-of-dog-health-certificates-for-outofstate-shipments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520729-8682db1ea8d25b7a139afbf34fb75d16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950134&Signature=ZW17VtIeRS1DweroYtftY9jdwSDM85QB-uNu8SM0My04JjWS151fBZjYu4E1wPB1~waIrkca4ZI~UhKj7jF6Yiw0NTWTPGSWj5kEqRvhrnZfrnCpUiefbdwK7hnxE4957VPCJJ608VbzAtsMYrkB9KPQqFYdwBYHDithWC1ZU8sIBl~ExNpnGTY3T8Q33flpGtjQMmhOhHmdz9zz9-fhMN5C4cKleldOV~cnPcqYAkZYQlP8g4TM5jaykqQYtIqfrnk6azswqqYUf3S8bu9fQ3BBtp45GlQoRuSBAhJnqe3dBWYKC7uJw0ubTbCSWkKYRPkRN5GBM1srL23AYlStCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Rubio presented SB 312 on behalf of Sen. Tom Umberg, saying the bill aims to close a data gap that lets puppies bred out of state and sold online enter California without a centralized record. \"California state law has never required shippers of dogs to send health certificate forms to CDFA. And this bill intends to remedy this,\" the author said.

Supporters described a pattern in which thousands of puppies are bred in large out‑of‑state operations, sometimes in substandard conditions, and sold online or through brokers. Britney Benesci of the ASPCA told the committee that buyers can be misled by listings that present animals as local and healthy; she said SB 312 would require electronic filing of the federal export health certificates to CDFA and to buyers so consumers and enforcement agencies have access to origin and health information.

Jennifer Fearing of the San Diego Humane Society told the committee that local animal-control and public-health investigators often lack a central record to trace shipments in cases of disease or fraud. She described the bill as an enforcement tool that would make it possible to identify volumes and origins of imported dogs and to support investigations.

Witnesses acknowledged privacy concerns for consumer data and said they are willing to work with Appropriations on amendments to protect personally identifiable information while preserving access for public-health and enforcement purposes.

Outcome: The committee voted to move SB 312 to the Appropriations Committee. The clerk recorded eight recorded “aye” votes and zero “no” votes.

Ending: Proponents said they will work with committee staff and Appropriations on language to address consumer-privacy concerns while retaining a searchable record for enforcement and disease control.","The Assembly Committee on Agriculture voted to refer SB 312 (by Sen. Umberg, presented by Sen. Rubio) to Appropriations. The bill would require electronic submission to CDFA of federally required health certificates for dogs imported into California so buyers and enforcement agencies can trace origins and health status.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves SB 493 to let CDFA secretary set salary ranges for fairgrounds managers

Committee approves SB 18 to create CDFA grant program for grocery stores in food deserts

Committee advances SB 312 to require electronic filing of dog health certificates for out‑of‑state shipments