California Legislature Passes Landmark Honeybee Health Act, Heads to Governor

California Legislature Passes Landmark Honeybee Health Act, Heads to Governor



Authored by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy), the bill establishes the state’s first-ever Managed Honeybee Health Program within the Department of Food and Agriculture.

The program would provide grants, incentives, and research funding aimed at protecting pollinators that sustain more than 100 crops statewide. “Bees may be small, but they are the backbone of California’s agriculture and economy,” said Assemblymember Ransom. “By protecting pollinators, we’re protecting our food supply, our farmers, and the future of our state.”


The urgency of the measure comes amid growing threats to California’s honeybee population from pests, disease, and climate pressures. A recent CalMatters feature warned that without intervention, declining bee numbers could cause severe damage to the state’s multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry and jeopardize food security.

The Honeybee Health Act has earned wide support from agricultural and environmental groups, including the California Fresh Fruit Association, the California State Beekeepers Association, the Almond Alliance, and a broad coalition of growers. Supporters say the bill positions California as a national leader in sustainable agriculture and pollinator health.

If signed into law, AB 1042 would mark a historic commitment to protecting a species essential to California’s farming economy. Governor Newsom will now decide whether to enact the measure, which advocates argue is critical for both the environment and the state’s long-term agricultural future.