The Assembly Agriculture Committee advanced SB 1223 to the Appropriations Committee on June 17 after a hearing focused on how agricultural districts and fairs should follow public-contracting rules.
Witnesses said the bill would address Public Contract Code section 10339, which was described during the hearing as limiting requests for proposals that are drafted to favor a specific bidder. Testimony also pointed to enforcement provisions that could allow a court to issue a temporary injunction if a contract is awarded in violation of the rule.
A witness said the issue matters because California has 54 agricultural districts operating up to 97 fairs, and some contracts at larger fairs can reach $40 million to $80 million. Committee members said they supported the bill but asked how fair managers would know they were compliant and what they would need to do to follow the law.
No opposition was heard during public comment, and the committee voted to send SB 1223 to Appropriations.
