Climate Continued from Page 3 who grow food and fiber in this state.” California Farm Bureau expressed early opposition to SB 253 and SB 261, and shared its concerns with authors of the bills, Reardon said. In comments related to SB 253, the organization said the Scope 3 emissions reporting requirements would increase costs and potentially hurt small- and medium- sized farm employers. In submitted
comments, the Farm Bureau stated SB 261 was premature pending release of the federal rule. “The governor indicated he is con- cerned about impacts to California businesses from climate-risk disclo- sure requirements,” Reardon said. “With the adoption of the federal de- cision, which dropped Scope 3 report- ing requirements, California should remove these requirements.”
Many California food and agriculture organizations joined a California Chamber of Commerce-led campaign to “Stop SB 253.” The coalition claimed that the disclosure requirements would act as a “hidden tax on small businesses.” In addition, AFBF, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others are suing California in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division. Plaintiffs in the Jan. 30 lawsuit claim the
two bills are unconstitutional and violate the interstate commerce clause and the First Amendment. After the federal rule was approved last week, AFBF urged California to follow the SEC’s lead by withdrawing its Scope 3 re- porting requirements for any company doing business in the state. (Christine Souza is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)
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Belkorp Ag, LLC Merced, CA Modesto, CA Santa Rosa, CA Stockton, CA
Cal-Coast Machinery, Inc. Oxnard, CA
Paso Robles, CA Santa Maria, CA
Fresno Equipment Co. Fresno, CA Pape Machinery, Inc. Dixon, CA Robbins, CA Woodland, CA
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Thomason Tractor Co. of CA Firebaugh, CA
March 13, 2024 Ag Alert 13
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