AB482 - California Table Grape Commission.

Assembly Bill No. 482 CHAPTER 614 An act to amend Sections 65500, 65524, 65527, 65528, 65532, 65533, 65550, 65552, 65553, 65555, 65556, 65559.5, 65562, 65563, 65566, 65569, 65570, 65572, 65573, 65574, 65575, 65575.2, 65600, 65601, 65603, 65650.5, 65661, 65662, 65663, 65673, and 65675 of, to add Sections 65530 and 65651.5 to, to repeal Sections 65554, 65558, 65560, 65561, 65565, and 65670 of, and to repeal and add Sections 65559, 65575.1, 65652, and 65660 of, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to food and agriculture, and making an appropriation therefor. [ Approved by Governor October 11, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 11, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 482, Solache. California Table Grape Commission. Existing law provides for the California Table Grape Commission, which comprises 21 grape producers, nominated in district elections by the procedures for appointment by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, and one public member appointed by the secretary. Existing law specifies the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the commission. Existing law levies an annual assessment on all fresh grapes during each marketing assessment, at an amount fixed by the commission not to exceed $0.006522 per pound. Existing law authorizes the commission to expend revenues from those assessments and all other moneys received by the commission, including from penalties for failing to pay the assessment and civil penalties for a violation of those provisions. This bill would revise these provisions by, among other things, changing the district borders and revising the nomination election and appointment processes for producer members of the commission. The bill would require the commission to annually compile and maintain a list of eligible producers who are qualified to vote in an election, and certify the list to the secretary at least 30 days before the date set for any meeting to nominate commissioners to office. The bill would expand the activities, powers, and duties of the commission to also include accepting and matching contributions of funds and making contributions of commission funds to other persons or agencies, and administering any program related to the table grape industry. The bill would increase the maximum amount of the above-described assessment to $0.02 per pound, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would authorize a person aggrieved by an action of the commission to file a grievance with the commission or a duly authorized committee of the commission designated for that purpose, and to appeal from decisions of the commission to the secretary. The bill would require an action by the commission for any violation of these provisions to be commenced within 2 years from the date of discovery of the alleged violation and would require an action against the commission by any person to be commenced within 2 years from the date of the act of which the person complains. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 65500 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65500. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) Grapes produced in California for fresh human consumption compose one of the major agricultural crops of California, and the production and marketing of these grapes affects the economy, welfare, standard of living, and health of a large number of citizens residing in this state. (b) Increased plantings of vineyards and improved cultural practices for the production of California grapes for fresh human consumption have increased and will continue to increase the production of California grapes, and unless the fresh human consumption of California grapes is increased by the expansion of existing markets and the development of new markets, the interests of the fresh grape industry of California, and the public interest of the people of this state, will be adversely affected. The expansion of the table grape industry also provides an important source of jobs for many people in this state, a high proportion of whom reside in historically depressed areas of the state, and serves to ensure the preservation of an agrarian society. (c) The inability of individual producers to maintain or expand present markets or to develop new or larger markets for these grapes results in an unreasonable and unnecessary economic waste of the agricultural wealth of this state. (d) These conditions and the accompanying waste jeopardize the future continued production of adequate supplies of fresh grapes for human consumption for the people of this and other states, and prevent producers from obtaining a fair return for their labor, their farms, and their production. As a consequence, the purchasing power of these producers and their workforce has been in the past, and may continue to be in the future unless these conditions are remedied, low in relation to that of other people engaged in other gainful occupations within the state, and they are thereby prevented from maintaining a proper standard of living and from contributing their fair share to the support of the necessary governmental and education functions, thus tending to increase unfairly the tax burden of other citizens of the state. (e) These conditions vitally concern the health, peace, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state. It is therefore necessary and expedient in the public interest to protect and enhance the reputation of California fresh grapes for human consumption in intrastate, interstate, and foreign markets, and to otherwise act so to eliminate unreasonable and unnecessary economic waste of the agricultural wealth of this state. (f) The promotion of the sale of fresh grapes for human consumption by means of advertising, dissemination of information on the manner and means of production, and the care and effort required in the production of these grapes, the methods and care required in preparing and transporting these grapes to market, and the handling of the same in consuming markets, research respecting the health, food, and dietetic value of California fresh grapes and the production, handling, transportation, and marketing of California fresh grapes, the dissemination of information respecting the results of that research, instruction of the wholesale and retail trade with respect to handling thereof, and the education and instruction of the general public with reference to the various varieties of California fresh grapes for human consumption, the time to use and consume each variety and the uses to which each variety should be put, the dietetic and health value of fresh grapes, all serve to increase the consumption of fresh grapes and to expand existing markets and create new markets for fresh grapes, and prevent agricultural waste, and is therefore in the interests of the welfare, public economy, and health of the people of this state. (g) It is hereby declared to be the policy of this state to aid producers of California fresh grapes in preventing economic waste in the production and marketing of their commodity, to develop more efficient and equitable methods in that production and marketing, and to aid these producers in restoring and maintaining their purchasing power at a more adequate, equitable, and reasonable level. (h) The production and marketing of grapes produced in California for fresh human consumption is declared to be affected with a public interest; this chapter is enacted in the exercise of the police power of this state for the purpose of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state. SEC. 2. Section 65524 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65524. “Producer” means a person engaged within this state in the business of producing or causing to be produced for market “fresh grapes.” SEC. 3. Section 65527 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65527. “Person” means an individual, firm, corporation, association, or any other business entity, and includes a state agency that engages in any of the commercial activities regulated pursuant to this chapter. SEC. 4. Section 65528 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65528. “Secretary” means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. SEC. 5. Section 65530 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read: 65530. “State” means the State of California. SEC. 6. Section 65532 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65532. “Commissioner” means a person appointed by the secretary pursuant to Section 65550. SEC. 7. Section 65533 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65533. “Districts” means and includes: (a) District 1, which includes all that area of California south of a line described as beginning at the point of intersection of the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean with the northern boundary line of the County of San Diego; thence northeasterly along the northern boundary of the County of San Diego to the point of intersection with the western boundary of the County of Riverside; thence northerly along the western boundary of the County of Riverside to the northern boundary of the County of Riverside; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the County of Riverside to the point of intersection with the California-Arizona state boundary. (b) District 2, which includes all that area of California north of the northern boundary of District No. 1 and south of a line described as beginning at the intersection of the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean with a line projected due west from the intersection of U.S. Highway No. 466 and California State Highway No. 1; thence easterly along U.S. Highway No. 466 to the town of Famoso; thence from Famoso northeasterly along the Famoso to Woody County Road to the town of Woody; thence along a line due north to a point on the northern boundary of the County of Kern; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the County of Kern and along the northern boundary of the County of San Bernardino to the point of intersection with the California-Nevada state boundary. (c) District 3, which includes all that area of California north of the northern boundary of District No. 2 and south of a line described as beginning at the point of intersection of the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean with the westerly projection of the north line of Township 23 south, M.D. B. & M.; thence easterly along the north line of Township 23 south projected to the point of intersection with the Principal San Bernardino Meridian; thence due east along a line to the point of intersection with the California-Nevada state boundary. (d) District 4, which includes all that area of California north of the northern boundary of District No. 3 and south of a line described as beginning at the point of intersection of the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean with the westerly projection of the north line of Township 18 south, M.D. B. & M.; thence easterly along the north line of Township 18 south projected to the point of intersection with the Principal San Bernardino Meridian; thence southerly along the Principal San Bernardino Meridian to the Fifth Standard Parallel north, S.B. B. & M.; thence easterly along the Fifth Standard Parallel north to the point of intersection with the California-Nevada state boundary. (e) District 5, which includes all that area of California north of the northern boundary of District No. 4 and south of a line described as beginning at the point of intersection of the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean with the Fourth Standard Parallel south M. D. B. & M.; thence easterly along the Fourth Standard Parallel south to the point of intersection with the southerly projection of McCall Road in the County of Fresno; thence northerly along McCall Road to the point of intersection with Rose Avenue in the County of Fresno; thence easterly along Rose Avenue and along the easterly projection of Rose Avenue to the point of intersection with the main channel of Kings River; thence northerly along Kings River to the point of intersection with California State Highway Sign Route No. 180; thence easterly along California State Highway Sign Route No. 180 to the point of intersection with the County of Fresno boundary; thence due east along a line to the point of intersection with the California-Nevada state boundary. (f) District 6, which includes all that area of California north of the northern boundary of District No. 5 and south of a line described as beginning at the point of intersection of the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean with the northern boundary of the County of Monterey; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the County of Monterey to the northern boundary of the County of San Benito; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the County of San Benito to a point on the western boundary of the County of Merced; thence northeasterly along the western boundary of the County of Merced to the northern boundary of the County of Merced; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the County of Merced to a point on the northern boundary of the County of Mariposa; thence easterly along the northern boundary of the County of Mariposa to the eastern boundary of the County of Madera; thence southerly along the eastern boundary of the County of Madera to a point on the western boundary of the County of Mono; and also including all of the area in the County of Mono, California. (g) District 7, which includes all that area of California not included in any other district. (h) The commission may change the district boundaries by a two-thirds vote of the commission. SEC. 8. Section 65550 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65550. There is in the state government the California Table Grape Commission. The commission shall comprise three producers from each district appointed by the secretary from the nominees selected pursuant to this article and one public member appointed pursuant to Section 65575.1. SEC. 9. Section 65552 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65552. The commission may employ a president, a treasurer, and a secretary. The compensation of each officer shall be fixed by the commission and they shall serve at the pleasure of the commission with powers and duties that may be delegated to them by the commission. An officer employed pursuant to this section shall not be a commissioner. SEC. 10. Section 65553 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 65553. A commissioner shall be an individual producer, or a partner or employee of a producer, who is actively engaged in growing fresh grapes within this state for a period of at least five years and is producing grapes subject to this chapter at the time of the election. No more than two members shall be persons employed by, or connected in a proprietary capacity with, the sam [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]