Commentary: Now is the time to keep a close eye on state legislation

Casey Gudel

More than 2,500 pieces of legislation have been introduced in the state Legislature this year, which is a lot to keep up with when you are already dealing with the day-to-day management of your operations.

So, how do you keep tabs on what is occurring in Sacramento?

The first step to keeping up with legislation is understanding the legislative process. Here, you will find a refresher course on how a bill becomes law.

Legislative sessions coincide with election years, so 2011 is the first of a two-year session.

As bills make their way through the process, bouncing between committees and the two houses, legislators face specific deadlines. Bills that do not make it through in the first year can be granted reconsideration and be brought up again in the following year. While a bill may be stopped this year, there is a good chance it will return.

The second step is knowing when your actions have the most impact. Your help will be needed most during the next two months, which marks the end of the legislative year. This is when the Legislature takes final action on bills.

During this time, legislation often changes at a moment's notice, so be assured we will keep you updated with our email Action Alert system, the FARM TEAM, and our Capitol Alert columns in Ag Alert^®.

Not receiving our email updates from FARM TEAM? Simply visit www.cfbf.com and click on the FARM TEAM icon to become a part of our grassroots network and help advance or stop legislation that impacts California family farms and ranches.

(Casey Gudel is political affairs manager for the California Farm Bureau Federation. She may be reached at cgudel@cfbf.com.)

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.