By Ag Council President Emily Rooney
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California’s policy landscape is shifting. While the state remains deeply progressive, we see a more moderated approach on key issues. Even among those elected and appointed officials who have long championed strict regulatory measures, there is a growing recognition that certain policies need to be reevaluated to achieve real, sustainable progress.
This shift presents opportunities. The Newsom Administration continues to support Sites Reservoir and other ag-friendly water projects, such as groundwater recharge, signaling an understanding that long-term water security is essential to the state’s economic and environmental future.
At the same time, the California Air Resources Board is reassessing some of its most ambitious climate mandates, opening the door for more balanced discussions about the feasibility of regulatory goals.
In the State Legislature, we are pleased to see policymakers reexamining the state’s permitting process, recognizing that excessive red tape has stalled critical infrastructure projects—including those that benefit agriculture, as well as urban, suburban and rural communities.
A report released in March by the Select Committee on Permitting Reform highlights the need for updating these processes, creating an opportunity for long-overdue improvements. The report resulted in a package of housing bills now moving through the State Legislature to reduce uncertainty, speed-up project timelines, and cut costs by standardizing permitting processes and removing mandates for builders, such as impact studies.
Regarding water, the report identifies water permit reform opportunities, such as: eliminating uncertainty in the application process, enhancing interagency coordination and consistency, and developing specific permitting pathways for drought resilience and flood risk reduction projects. We look forward supporting such efforts to boost water supply infrastructure.
On the labor and workforce front, and for the first time in state history, voters defeated an initiative on the ballot last year to further increase the minimum wage—an effort in which Ag Council and its members played a leadership role.
These developments reflect a broader reality: the challenges agriculture has faced for decades—rising costs, regulatory complexity, and infrastructure needs—are gaining more attention from California policymakers. Issues once seen as sector-specific are now being recognized as broader community and infrastructure development concerns that impact residents across California.
Ag Council will continue working to ensure agriculture has a strong voice in these discussions. By staying engaged and finding common ground, we can help shape policies that balance the state’s diverse priorities.
There is still plenty of work ahead, but with a more pragmatic tone emerging in Sacramento, now is the time to make meaningful progress.
