Gov. Newsom Finalizes Legislative Decisions
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Governor Gavin Newsom concluded his review of state legislation on October 13. Of the 917 bills that reached his desk after passing the State Legislature this year, Governor Newsom signed 794 and vetoed 123.
The governor used his veto pen less often this year compared to last year. In 2025, he vetoed 13 percent of bills. In 2024, he vetoed 15 percent.
Notable bills signed into law:
• SB 72 (Caballero) Water supply targets – Ag Council supported
• SB 279 (McNerney) Composting ag materials – Ag Council supported
• AB 411 (Papan) Livestock disposal: composting – Ag Council supported
• AB 732 (Macedo) Neglected or abandoned crops; pests – Ag Council supported
• AB 1264 (Gabriel) Ultra-processed food (UPF) – Ag Council moved to a neutral position given the negotiated amendments
• AB 1319 (Shultz) California ESA protections without a public appeal or comment process – Ag Council opposed
With the governor’s decisions finalized, please click HERE for a more comprehensive legislative overview.
Congratulations to Ag Council’s Intern, Lauren Spellman
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Ag Council’s team extends a hearty congratulations to our hard-working intern, Lauren Spellman, who recently graduated from UC Davis and will soon be starting a full-time position with Cogent Consulting and Communications, Inc. in Sacramento. Ag Council is pleased to share the message below from Lauren as she concludes her time with our trade association. Thank you for being a valuable asset to our team, Lauren!
Message from Lauren Spellman
I am thrilled to share that I have graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management with an emphasis in Watershed Science.
Arriving at college, I could never have foreseen the obstacles I would face and the opportunities I would have while balancing school, Division I athletics, and internships. Although the last four years have proven to be challenging, I am proud of the resilience, patience, and work ethic my experience has taught me and that includes my time at Ag Council.
I am extremely thankful to Ag Council for the support during my college journey. Emily, Tricia, and Jacob have all been excellent role models, helping me develop valuable professional skills and gain a deeper knowledge of our State Legislature and agriculture industry.
My work at Ag Council included assistance with legislative meetings, board meetings and Ag Council’s annual meetings in 2024 and 2025. My work has also encompassed grant funding research, writing legislative summaries, and drafting a white paper on the Agricultural Workforce Development Program.
Going forward, I am excited to share that I have accepted a position at Cogent Consulting and Communications, Inc. I will be an account assistant working on water quality laws and regulations relating to the dairy industry.