Bill > AB2326

This bill makes several changes to existing laws regarding noxious weed management and the Broomrape Program. It extends the Broomrape Program, which focuses on controlling a parasitic plant that affects tomatoes and other crops, by two years, from July 1, 2028, to July 1, 2030. The bill also broadens the definition of "commodity" for the Broomrape Program to include any crop impacted by broomrape, not just tomatoes, and expands the definition of "person" to include anyone holding title to such a commodity. Additionally, it introduces new provisions to protect the confidentiality of specific producer and property information collected under the Broomrape Program, making it accessible only to the Department of Food and Agriculture or county agricultural departments. For general noxious weed management, the bill clarifies that funds for weed control can only be allocated to eligible weed management areas, which are local organizations coordinating weed control efforts. It also revises the requirements for integrated weed management plans submitted by these areas and adjusts the maximum percentage of funds that can be used for administrative costs, increasing it from 10% to 25%. Finally, the bill makes legislative findings to justify the confidentiality provisions for the Broomrape Program, stating it's necessary to protect personally identifiable information.