Panel advances AB 643 to add agricultural amendment products as SB 1383 procurement option

Assemblymember Wilson presented AB 643 as a technical, narrowly drawn bill that would let certain agricultural fertilizer products made from diverted organic material count toward a jurisdiction’s recovered-organic-waste procurement target under SB 1383. Wilson said the change is conditioned on (1) processing at facilities using CalRecycle-authorized technologies and (2) licensing of the end product by CDFA as an agricultural fertilizer when used as a beneficial agricultural amendment. She described the measure as having minor and absorbable state cost.

Carrie West of Valley Sanitation District testified in support, explaining the bill would provide "one more tool in the toolbox" for municipal districts trying to meet SB 1383 procurement targets and convert municipal solid waste into usable products such as compost, fertilizer and energy. West said the bill helps local jurisdictions comply with methane-reduction and greenhouse-gas goals by expanding eligible end-use pathways.

Wilson asked the committee for an I vote; the chair recorded the item as out on a roll call with at least one recorded 'no' vote in the transcript for a committee member. The committee’s official roll-call results and any amendment text will be posted on the Assembly Appropriations Committee website.