•On Aug. 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 917, designed to expand opportunities for small wineries seeking to sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers markets. Drafted by state Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), SB 917 modernizes previous California legislation which only allows winemakers to sell wine at farmers markets if it is produced exclusively from “estate-grown” grapes, meaning all grapes must be grown on-site. This requirement excludes many small and boutique wineries that source grapes from California growers. SB 917 would allow non-estate wineries to sell wine at farmers markets, ensuring more equitable access for small producers and giving local market operators greater flexibility to determine participation. The bill—sponsored by organizations like the Family Winemakers of California and the California Association of Winegrape Growers—encourages consumers to support locally made wine, strengthening small businesses and regional economies. “The passage of SB 917 is a win for California winemakers, grape growers, and consumers alike,” GinaLisa Tamayo, board president of Family Winemakers of California, said in an Aug. 27 statement. “We thank Sen. Laird for his leadership in removing outdated barriers surrounding the farmers market permit.” In an Aug. 27 release, Laird said he’s grateful Newsom “signed this commonsense measure” into law. “California’s wineries are hurting, and SB 917 delivers real relief,” Laird stated. “By cutting red tape and opening new markets, we’re giving small producers more opportunities to get their products directly to consumers.”
•U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) hosted a press conference on Aug. 21 to highlight a $20 million federal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to benefit one of UC Santa Barbara’s advanced research labs. According to Carbajal’s office, the NSF grant will be used to create a remotely accessible, AI- and robotics-enabled laboratory for discovering new polymers and soft materials. Researchers anywhere in the country will be able to design experiments online, have robots conduct the experiments on-site at UCSB, and receive and analyze the results without having to travel to the university. “The work conducted right here on the Central Coast will revolutionize materials research and lay the foundation for breakthroughs across many industries,” Carbajal stated, “from medicine and construction to advanced aerospace and energy technology.”
•Assembly Bill 2691, drafted by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), passed the state Legislature on Aug. 25. Designed to restrict convicted sex offenders and sex traffickers from holding elected offices in California, AB 2691 advanced to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration. Addis described the legislation as a “first-in-the nation policy” in a statement. “For far too long, survivors have been silenced while watching their abusers seek public office and positions of power,” Addis stated. “[AB 2691] is about protecting and honoring survivors by permanently banning those who commit egregious felonies of sexual assault from running for office in California.” Under current California law, disqualifying convictions commonly referred to as “public trust” crimes are limited to offenses involving bribery, embezzlement of public funds, extortion, theft of public money, perjury, and conspiracy to commit these offenses. The proposed bill adds sexual assault and human sex trafficking to the list of disqualifying convictions to hold elected office in California and ensures that out-of-state and international convictions are included regardless of where the crimes were committed. AB 2691 specifically bans individuals who are permanently on the Sex Offender Registry list due to felony sex convictions, also known as Tier 3 felonies. According to Addis’ office, Newsom has a Sept. 30 deadline to sign the measure.
This article appears in September 3 – September 10, 2026.
