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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The bill, cosponsored by Animal Legal Defense Fund and Social Compassion in Legislation, positions California as a humane leader on this developing issue, preempting the controversial and cruel industry before it has an opportunity to develop in the state.
These animals have significant cognitive abilities and can learn new skills, navigate complex mazes, are known escape artists and even use tools.
Due to their complex mental ability, octopuses have high enrichment needs that simply cannot be met in farming environments. Intensively confining these highly intelligent, solitary animals in unnatural farming conditions is inhumane, as there is a high likelihood of stress, aggressive activity, and high mortality among octopuses in these settings.
Methods of slaughtering octopuses have historically been highly inhumane, including clubbing, slicing, asphyxiation, and chilling.
“This is a key moment, not only in California but around the country, in the effort to protect octopuses from the scale of suffering that other animals already endure on factory farms,” says Animal Legal Defense Fund Senior Legislative Affairs Manager Jennifer Hauge. “Californians have demonstrated their concern for the welfare of animals, and this bill is an opportunity to continue that commitment by leading on this issue with proactive legislation. We commend Assemblymember Bennett’s efforts to stop octopus farming in its tracks in California.”
“These highly functional creatures have captured our fascination for as long as we have been telling stories,” says Assemblymember Steve Bennett. “Octopuses are primarily solitary creatures that are not suited for large scale breeding. They have demonstrated an aptitude for learning and their acute intelligence is becoming well recorded among the scientific community. Outside the U.S., there is a growing trend of recognizing the sentience of this eight-legged cephalopod and the inappropriateness of captive breeding and harvesting it. AB 3162 will prevent needless, systemic harm to these captivating animals.”
In addition to the animal welfare concerns, octopus farming could have problematic environmental consequences.
Aquaculture facilities for octopuses have the potential to create an increased risk of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, contributing to environmental pollution and potential algal blooms that create low-oxygen dead zones devoid of life, disrupting local marine ecosystems.
Antibiotics and pesticides may also be used to control the spread of disease and presence of parasites — as they already are with sea lice in salmon farms — and these can end up in the diets of wild fish, making them sick and disrupting food chains.
“Jurisdictions around the world, including California, are restricting or banning various forms of aquaculture due to its negative environmental impact and the risk of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections in marine life,” says Judie Mancuso, Founder and President of Social Compassion in Legislation. “Factory farms are environmental disasters whether on land or in the water, and the cruelty inherent in their business model is unspeakable. Octopus aquaculture would be a harmful and truly inhumane practice, and AB 3162 will prevent it from getting established in our great state.”
Similar bills have also been introduced in Washington state (H.B. 1153) and Hawaii (H.B. 2262).
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“This measure is about enhancing quality of life for people with mobility issues,” Sen. Dodd said. “It allows power wheelchair users to get their wheelchairs fixed in an efficient and timely manner when things go wrong. By doing so, it ensures those who rely on wheelchairs can be operating as soon as possible.”
Under existing law, manufacturers of power wheelchairs are not required to provide information or replacement parts directly to consumers or independent repair shops.
Colorado became the first state in the nation to address the issue, adopting a right-to-repair laws that granted wheelchair owners and independent shops access to parts, manufacturer software, specialized tools and other items needed to ensure timely and affordable wheelchair repair.
In California, Sen. Dodd has introduced Senate Bill 1384, which would ensure the same right to repair for California wheelchair users and streamline the process for getting complex rehabilitation technology repaired.
Among other things, it requires independent repair shops to require written notice to consumers before conducting repairs and establishes guidelines on what parts can be replaced.
The bill is supported by advocates including Sacramento disability rights activist and wheelchair user Russell Rawlings. It is expected to be heard in committee in about a month.
“If you have a power chair and are using it daily, it needs regular maintenance,” Rawlings said. “But the industry as it stands has very little interest in making repairs. There can be months if not longer of wait time. This bill seeks to change that by making it easier for owners and smaller shops to fill the repair need. Also, power chairs are increasingly controlled by software that is currently restricted to a small number of vendors. Owners having access to these tools would enable more freedom and ability to control their driving experiences.”
Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.
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Specifically, AB 2839 prohibits a person from knowingly distributing digitally modified and materially deceptive communications about candidates running for office, elected officials, elections officials, voting procedures and sites, and equipment used to conduct an election.
These prohibitions would apply to AI-generated deepfake audio, images, and videos, 120 days before an election inclusive to 60 days following the election.
The bill is timely, following an AI-influenced general election in Argentina and coming weeks after a deepfake audio recording impersonating President Biden which sought to discourage Democratic voters from voting in the New Hampshire primary election.
“There have always been bad actors who try to wreak havoc on elections. I remember an election where people distributed door hangers which gave people the wrong polling location in order to disrupt the election outcome,” said Assemblymember Gail Pellerin. “But now the widespread access to generative AI is making that type of damage so much more sophisticated and easier to disseminate.”
Assemblymember Pellerin served as the chief elections official in Santa Cruz County for 27 years. She also served as President of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials from 2010 to 2012 and currently chairs the Assembly Committee on Elections.
“Getting the right information to voters is crucial to a functioning democracy, and it becomes very difficult to ensure the integrity of the election when these deepfakes are spread online to intentionally misinform voters,” said Assemblymember Pellerin.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
It will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
They will serve spaghetti and garlic bread, with salad and dessert.
Fiddler and Marsha will perform.
The event is free to all veterans, with a $10 donation requested for non-veterans.
The Moose Lodge is located at 15900 East Highway 20, Clearlake Oaks.
For more information, call the lodge at 707-998-3740.