The California State Assembly passed a bill led by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom to create a honey bee health program under the California Department of Food and Agriculture earlier this year. Between June of 2024 and February of 2025, beekeepers across the country have reported an average loss of 62 percent of their bee colonies, according to a national survey by Project Apis, a non-profit dedicated to bee research. These losses threaten not just the beekeeping industry but California’s food supply, which relies heavily on pollination.
Assembly Bill 1042 addresses the crisis head-on. It strengthens bee health by investing in research, education, and pollinator friendly practices. The program will offer incentives for commercial beekeepers and farmers to adopt practices that support pollinator health.
It will also provide grants to tribes, schools, non-profits, and local groups to advance bee health research. In addition, it funds hands-on projects that train beekeepers and demonstrate real-world solutions. It is supported by a broad coalition of agricultural and industry leaders, including the California Fresh Fruit Association, California Farm Bureau, California State Beekeepers Association, the Almond Alliance, Agricultural Council of California, California Chamber of Commerce, and many others.
Lorrie Boyer reporting for AgNet West.