State Affairs - Federal Policy - Legal Services Advocacy in Action
Legal victory A federal appeals court has upheld a de- cision preliminarily blocking enforcement of California’s Senate Bill 399, a 2025 law restricting how employers communicate with employees about certain workplace issues, including union organizing. The decision represents a major win for California Farm Bureau, which filed an amicus brief in the case earlier this year. While the ruling is not a final decision on the law’s constitutionality, it maintains the restrictions on enforcement as the case proceeds. Under SB 399, employers are prohibited from disciplining or otherwise penaliz- ing employees who choose not to attend meetings where the employer discusses political or religious matters, including whether employees should join or support a labor union. Farm Bureau supported the legal chal- lenge by joining a “friend-of-the-court” brief with other business and agricultural interests, arguing that the law unfairly re- stricts employers’ ability to communicate with their workforces. Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit agreed that the chal- lengers were likely to succeed in their argu- ment that the law violates employers’ First Amendment rights. The court found that the law places restrictions on employers based on the subjects they discuss, raising constitutional concerns. The decision means California cannot enforce the challenged provisions while the lawsuit continues. This is particularly relevant to agricultural employers, who may communicate with employees about union representation and other work- place matters. Air monitoring The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s 2025 air monitoring report found that none of the pollutants mea- sured reached levels considered harmful to health, though laboratory issues limited 2025 data for two fumigants. Released late last month, the report provided updated data on pesticide concentrations in four agricultural communities: Oxnard, Santa Maria, Shafter and Watsonville. DPR’s air monitoring network , estab- lished in 2011, collects weekly air sam- ples to evaluate potential pesticide ex- posure and the effectiveness of existing regulatory safeguards. Of the 40 pesticides and breakdown products monitored in 2025, 25 were be- low detectable levels, six were detected at only trace levels, and nine were de- tected at quantifiable concentrations. This represents a decrease from 13 chemicals detected at quantifiable lev- els in 2024, although the comparison is somewhat limited by incomplete 2025 data for two fumigants. Detecting a pesticide does not necessar- ily indicate a health risk. DPR compares
report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition to established pack terri- tories across Northern California, CDFW has documented wolf activity in Butte County and confirmed a wolf west of In- terstate 5 near the county lines of Men- docino, Lake and Glenn, marking the first verified wolf presence in the region in modern history. Meanwhile, Tehama County recorded its first confirmed wolf depredation, at- tributed to the Ice Cave pack. The Tunni- son pack is no longer considered active after its breeding female joined the Harvey pack, CDFW reported. These developments raise questions about how California measures wolf recov- ery, particularly its reliance on breeding pairs and established packs as population benchmarks. While pack counts may de- cline due to changes such as pack mergers, the overall wolf population, geographic range and impacts on livestock can con- tinue to increase. As wolves expand into additional areas of California, ranchers are encouraged to stay informed through CDFW’s updat- ed wolf activity maps at https://wildlife. ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray- Wolf/Location-Map and report sightings to help track wolf movements.
other livestock, pets and wildlife. Infesta- tions can cause severe wounds and can be fatal if left untreated. The pest poses a significant threat to animal health and the livestock industry, making early detection and rapid contain- ment critical. In response, USDA and Arizona officials have established a 20-kilometer (approxi- mately 12 miles) infested zone around the detection, implemented animal move- ment restrictions, increased surveillance and trapping, and released sterile flies to help control the population. While the detection occurred in Arizona, the proximity to California underscores the importance of continued vigilance among livestock producers and veterinarians. USDA encourages animal owners to regularly inspect livestock and pets for un- usual wounds, visible larvae or egg masses and signs of irritation or discomfort. Sus- pected infestations should be reported immediately to a veterinarian or animal health official. USDA maintains a public dashboard with confirmed detections and response information at screwworm.gov. Wolves Gray wolves continue to expand into new areas of the state, according to a new
measured concentrations against health- based thresholds for short-, medium- and long-term exposure. These thresholds incorporate additional margins of safety and are set below concentrations where adverse health effects are expected. DPR reported no exceedances of appli- cable acute, subchronic or chronic health- based thresholds in 2025, concluding that the reported pesticide concentrations were unlikely to be harmful to human health. The report also noted that laborato- ry issues at the California Department of Food and Agriculture resulted in the invalidation of some 2025 monitoring data for 1,3-dichloropropene and meth- yl bromide. As a result, only partial-year results for these chemicals were includ- ed in the report. The findings underscore the value of real-world data to inform regulatory de- cisions, protect public health and ensure farmers can continue using essential crop protection tools responsibly. Kangaroo rat Riverside County officials will revise a proposed change to the Stephens’ kanga- roo rat mitigation fee after Farm Bureau raised concerns that the new fee struc- ture could significantly increase permit- ting costs. The proposal would replace a proj- ect-based fee with a flat fee of $500 or $900, depending on the type of develop- ment, based on a parcel’s gross acreage. The change could place a greater financial burden on rural landowners applying for routine permits. California Farm Bureau worked with Riverside County Farm Bureau to review the proposal and submitted a comment letter to the county board of supervisors questioning the methodology and justi- fication for the fee change. The letter also asked the county to seek additional input from the agricultural community. The board continued consideration of the proposal last week. County staff later met virtually with Riverside County Farm Bureau and affected stakeholders, with California Farm Bureau also participating. County staff agreed to revise language in the proposed ordinance and recirculate it to Riverside County Farm Bureau and rural stakeholders for review before bringing it The U.S. Department of Agriculture An- imal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the first detection of New World screwworm in Arizona last week, following identification of the pest in a dog in Coch- ise County. The case was confirmed by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Federal and state animal health officials are coordinating response efforts to pre- vent further spread. back to the board of supervisors. New World screwworm New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including cattle,
Peter Adam & Associates, LLC Mediation • Facilitation • Negotiation Protect the farm. Preserve the family. Find a way forward. When family agricultural disputes, succession issues, or exit strategies threaten what you’ve built, experienced help is available. Peter Adam and his family built a successful agribusiness over 42 years. He served as Santa Barbara County Supervisor (2013-2020) and understands the agricultural world from the inside. He helps families clarify options, reduce legal costs, protect relationships, and reach equitable outcomes. Call 805-310-3854 peteradamassociates@gmail.com Santa Maria, CA Curriculum Vitae and references available upon request. | Peter L. Adam
8 Ag Alert November 4, 2026
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