CA AB350

Establishes a 3-year grant program administered by the Department of Food and Agriculture to fund technical assistance for landowners in critically overdrafted basins to reduce water use and prevent unnecessary agricultural fallowing.

Requires the department to fund one or more technical assistance providers in each critically overdrafted basin and establish criteria for providers including nonprofit organizations, UC Cooperative Extension, and resource conservation districts.

Mandates that at least 25% of grant funds support technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, with prioritization for disadvantaged farmers and those in disadvantaged communities.

Directs technical assistance to help landowners design, develop, and implement on-farm conservation plans that transition to lower water-intensive agricultural practices while maintaining productivity and avoiding permanent land fallowing.

Allows technical assistance providers to receive grant funding for direct costs and overhead expenses, and authorizes the department to use existing Healthy Soils Program guidelines to administer the new program.