California ranchers and rural communities scored a major win today as AB 411, the C.A.T.T.L.E. Act (Composting Alternatives for Timely, Transparent, Livestock End-of-Life), passed the Senate Appropriations Committee by a unanimous 8–0 vote. The measure now advances to the Senate Floor with no opposition votes recorded throughout its journey in the Legislature.

Authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) and co-authored by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Stockton), AB 411 allows routine, on-farm composting of livestock mortalities under science-based best practices developed by the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), CalRecycle, and the State Water Resources Control Board.

Practical & Environmental Benefits

The bill addresses long-standing challenges in rural California, especially where rendering services is limited or unavailable. By permitting composting of up to 100 cubic yards on site and requiring safe application of finished compost back to farmland, AB 411:

• Reduces environmental and health risks tied to burial, bone piles, or long-distance hauling.
• Creates valuable soil amendments that improve soil health.
• Cuts methane emissions and deters predator conflicts.

Unanimous, Bipartisan Support

AB 411 passed the Assembly 79–0 and cleared multiple policy committees unanimously. It also secured unanimous approval from the Senate Environmental Quality Committee (5–0) before today’s 8–0 Appropriations Committee vote.

“This bill demonstrates that smart, sustainable solutions for agriculture can unite lawmakers across the aisle,” said Assemblymember Papan. “We’re proud to see California lead the nation in advancing safe, climate-friendly livestock practices.”

Broad Coalition of Support

AB 411 is backed by Western United Dairies and other coalitions, including:

• California Cattlemen’s Association
• California Farm Bureau Federation
• California Chamber of Commerce
• Ag Council of California
• California Certified Organic Farmers
• Defenders of Wildlife
• Californians Against Waste
• California Ag Action Network (CalCan)
• Roots of Change

> Read the Coalition Letter here.

Next Steps

AB 411 now heads to the Senate Floor for a final vote. If approved, it will move to the Governor’s desk for signature, establishing California as the first state in the nation with a comprehensive, science-based framework for livestock mortality composting.