Ag Council members joined together in May for the association’s annual Legislative Conference in Sacramento to connect with over three dozen legislators and their staff and discuss legislative priorities.
To kick-off the event, Ag Council welcomed lawmakers who discussed a myriad of issues at the forefront in the State Legislature. We appreciate the legislators who joined us:
• Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks)
• Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita)
• Senator Tim Grayson (D-Concord)
Assemblymember Irwin focused on her work as chair of the Assembly Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change. She also held a dialogue with our members about cap-and-trade reauthorization and ag funding requests from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Senator Valladares talked about how she values agriculture, supports increasing water storage, and she also discussed her work as a co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Senator Grayson spoke about his pursuit of a manufacturing tax credit and provided sound advice for Ag Council members before they headed into their afternoon meetings with legislators.
Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) received Ag Council’s 2025 Influential Legislator Award during the conference. Ag Council President Emily Rooney cited the association’s appreciation for Senator Ashby’s honesty and tenacity. Among her efforts, she authored a bill to boost groundwater recharge opportunities, and she has strongly supported our members on challenging issues through her actions in the Legislature.
Attendees met with legislative offices in the afternoon and advocated on a range of pertinent issues including water, labor, a bill to define ultra-processed food and priority funding requests for food and ag programs. They also connected with additional legislators and staff during an evening reception.
Thank you to all those who joined us to advocate on the crucial issues impacting California agriculture.
Click here to view Legislative Conference photos on Ag Council’s website.