California’s farm communities are facing a structural crisis.

Water scarcity is forcing hundreds of thousands of acres of productive land into mandatory fallowing.

And for many family farmers, this means land that once sustained generations is now generating zero income.

Assembly Bill 1156, authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, is a practical response to that reality. It gives family farmers a new option to keep their land productive, protect its long‑term agricultural future, and help stabilize rural communities during a period of profound transition.

The Problem

The economic consequences of forced fallowing under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) are severe:

• Between 500,000 and 1 million acres of farmland are projected to be forced into fallow by 2040, primarily in the San Joaquin Valley.

• Fallowed land typically produces no revenue, even though farmers still carry taxes, debt, and maintenance costs.

• Small and mid‑sized family farms are hit hardest, lacking the capital reserves that large operators use to absorb losses or pay steep regulatory penalties.

Under current law, farmers who want to host solar power on agricultural land often must cancel their Williamson Act contracts and pay large cancellation fees. That path is effectively closed to many family farms.

What AB 1156 Does

AB 1156 creates a narrow, carefully defined pathway for solar development on land that is already water‑constrained. This approach reflects existing realities rather than pretending fallowed land can simply return to production without water.

Why It Matters

AB 1156 is about dignity, fairness, and keeping rural California alive. The bill:

• Provides a new economic lifeline. Farmers gain predictable, long‑term lease income from acres that would otherwise produce nothing.

• Protects family farms. The bill levels the playing field by removing financial barriers that favor large operators.

• Preserves farmland for the next generation. Unlike warehouses or permanent development, solar‑use easements allow land to revert to agriculture.

• Builds stronger rural communities. Generates jobs, local tax revenue, and legally binding community benefits tied to nearby towns.

• Achieves climate progress without higher prices. Using low‑value, water‑scarce land for solar supports clean‑energy goals while putting downward pressure on wholesale power costs.

At its core, AB 1156 recognizes a simple truth: forcing farmers to fallow their land and then forbidding them from using it to support their families is neither fair nor sustainable.

To contact your lawmaker in support of AB 1156, click here.

Family farmers deserve choices when water is gone. AB 1156 gives them one.

If you support keeping family farms rooted in California, protecting farmland for future generations, and helping rural communities adapt with dignity, take action today.

Add your voice in support of AB 1156 by using our Take Action tool.

👉 Use our Take Action tool here 👈

A short message of support can make a real difference.

AB 1156 is earning thoughtful attention across California, particularly in regions already feeling the economic impact of SGMA. Notable coverage includes:

• Sacramento Bee editorial board: Emphasizing the need for pragmatic solutions that support both agriculture and clean energy.

• Los Angeles Times opinion coverage: Highlighting how water scarcity demands new approaches that respect farmers and communities.

• Fresno Bee reader commentary: Reflecting on the real, on‑the‑ground impacts of fallowing in the Central Valley and the need for workable options.

• ABC 23 report: Explores how fifth-generation farmer Mike Frey and others are adapting to severe groundwater restrictions under SGMA by transforming their fallow farmland into solar farms

This coverage underscores a growing consensus: AB 1156 offers a balanced, common‑sense way to help family farmers preserve California’s agricultural legacy.