THE CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS HAS GONE TO SACRAMENTO, BECAUSE OF TODAY?S HEARING ON AB-1147. VANESSA BOGEN-HOLM SAYS THE HEMP FARMING BILL COULD ENABLE LOCAL FARMERS TO MEET THE RISING MARKET FOR A VARIETY OF HEMP-BASED PRODUCTS. BOGEN-HOLM WENT ON TO SAY THAT AB-1147 HAS BROAD-BASED BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT.

STATE SENATOR JEFF DENHAM AMENDED HIS SENATE BILL 722 TODAY TO REQUIRE LIFETIME SATELLITE TRACKING FOR SEX OFFENDERS CONVICTED OF CHILD MOLESTATION. THE MEASURE WOULD REQUIRE MONITORING UPON THE OFFENDER'S RELEASE FROM PRISON. THE MEASURE IS PATTERNED AFTER SIMILAR LEGISLATION RECENTLY ENACTED IN FLORIDA. . SB 722 IS SCHEDULED TO BE VOTED ON IN THE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE NEXT TUESDAY.

3 BILLS THAT COULD EFFECT AREA RESIDENTS HAVE PASSED THEIR FIRST LEGISLATIVE REVIEW.

SENATE BILL 952 ALLOWS THE STATE TO SELL (OR LEASE TO) SOLEDAD (AT FAIR MARKET VALUE) A WASTEWATER DISPOSAL PLANT ON SOME PROPERTY NEAR THE SOLEDAD CORRECTIONAL TRAINING FACILITY. UNTIL IT CAN INCREASE ITS TREATMENT CAPACITY, THEIR IS A BUILDING MORATORIUM IN SOLEDAD.

AND 2 CEMETERY BILLS HAVE RENEWED A DECADE-LONG EFFORT TO ESTABLISH A VETERAN?S CEMETERY ON THE FORMER FORT ORD. SENATE BILL 480 WOULD SET UP A SPECIAL FUND TO COLLECT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR OPERATION OF THE CEMETERY. ASSEMBLY BILL 922 TAKES A MORE DIRECT APPROACH, INSTRUCTING THE STATE TO BUILD AND OPERATE THE CEMETERY.

A WORLD TRADE BODY HAS ADMONISHED JAPAN FOR RESTRICTING IMPORTS OF AMERICA APPLES. RON GASKILL, OF THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU, SAYS THE RESTRICTIONS ARE UNNECESSARILY RESTRICTIVE. THAT?S BECAUSE THE FRUIT THAT IS ACTUALLY SHIPPED OUT OF THE U.S. IS ALWAYS MATURE?.NOT THE PROBLEMATIC YOUNGER FRUIT. THE U.S. CAN NOW IMPOSE A TARIFF AGAINST JAPANESE GOODS, BUT FIRST, OFFICIALS MUST FILE THE APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK.