Agricultural Theft Legislation for California Farmers Signed into Law

Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 224 into law which seeks to protect farmers from rural agricultural theft.

According to the bill, it would create a new category for grand theft of agricultural property and require the fines that are collected to be redistributed back to the current agriculture and rural based crime prevention programs.

The bill was brought forward by Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) in an effort to help law enforcement curb agricultural crime.

The bill passed the State Senate in a 37-1 vote on May 5 and moved through the State Assembly in a 71-0 vote. The Governor signed the bill on July 12.