Call to action: Contact Governor Newsom's office TODAY, tell him why AB99 (Connolly) is important to your community and why it should be signed into law.
Assembly Bill 99 (Caltrans pesticide reform) continues to show the power of a true grassroots effort. Thanks to the overwhelming support from this community and communities and organizations throughout California, AB99 passed through Senate Appropriations in August (where it failed in 2023) and passed the Senate Floor on August 28th, 2024 . We're going to the Governor's office!
The Governor's signature is by no means is a perfunctory step. There is concern that Governor Newsom may not sign the bill because of its modest fiscal implications.
Please email Governor Newsom's office today to ask him to sign AB99 into law (the deadline is Tuesday September 10th). This will be our last request for AB99. This is the final hurdle to pass on our journey to bring pesticide use reform to all of California's state highways!
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ACTION: Email Governor Newsom's office
Contact Emails for Governor Newsom's Office (include them all in your email):
**Alternately you can call the Governor's office at 916-445-2841 and leave a message or post a comment at this website (select AB-99 on the "Active Legislation" tab: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
Suggested Text: Add to and modify as appropriate
Subject Line: Please sign AB99
Dear Governor Newsom,
I respectfully ask that you sign Assembly Bill 99 (Connolly) into law. I live in [insert city/county] and have seen firsthand the harms of the California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans') outdated approach to pesticide use for routine vegetation maintenance. Many of our state highways are small rural 2-lane roads that are directly adjacent to homes, schools, businesses, organic farms, and sensitive habitats. Caltrans' often sprays on weekends when people are out walking and riding their bikes. Caltrans does not give local residents advanced notification before they spray, so residents are often caught driving or walking next to spray trucks.
I understand that several Caltrans districts have found ways to use little or no pesticides for routine road maintenance. I would like to see Caltrans adopt more of these non-chemical methods statewide. It does not seem equitable that Caltrans would be able to manage roads without pesticides in one county (like Mendocino or Humboldt) but not manage the roads in my county in a similar fashion. I understand that changes of this kind have been difficult for Caltrans to implement. AB-99 will provide a reasonable and necessary framework for this important reform to occur.
The modest budget implications of AB-99 are quite small compared to the legal liability the agency must have for years of deferred compliance, not to mention the cost incurred to taxpayers for years of over-purchasing and overusing toxic chemicals on public roads. Many other governmental agencies in California that manage land have updated their Integrated Management Plans so that pesticides used only used as a last resort. Please sign AB-99 so that Caltrans may folow suit.
Best regards,
[Name]
[Organization, if applicable]
[City/County of residence]
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