State Sen. Dean Florez has proposed regulations designed to prevent the devastating E. coli outbreaks that that killed three people and sickened hundreds throughout the country in recent months. The California agriculture industry, which produces about three-quarters of the nation’s lettuce and spinach, suffered huge financial losses from the contamination which investigators believe may have been caused by wild pigs that spread the bacteria in a Salinas Valley spinach field. Florez, who represents the agriculture-rich southern San Joaquin Valley plans to introduce a bill that calls for a system to track produce from fields to store shelves and forces growers to further protect crops from contaminated water and stray animals that can spread bacteria. State farmers are not happy about the legislation because they could have their crops condemned if they’re caught violating its rules. The Western Growers Association, which represents the fresh produce industry in California and Arizona, is now working on a self-regulating scheme to head off Florez. “We’re the guys who understand our business and what needs to be done,” said Imperial Valley spinach and lettuce farmer Jack Vessey, who supports the industry-led approach.

Assemblyman Lloyd Levine wants California to ban incandescent lightbulbs as part of the State’s g initiatives to reduce energy use and greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. “Incandescent lightbulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago, and since that time they have undergone no major modifications” he said, “they remain incredibly inefficient, converting only about 5 percent of the energy they receive into light”. Levine is expected to introduce the legislation this week.