SB 1429 Summary

• Expands environmental violation penalties to apply to cannabis, cannabis products, and industrial hemp production or cultivation, rather than only controlled substances generally.

• Imposes civil penalties ranging from $8,000 to $40,000 per violation for breaches of specified Fish and Game Code, Penal Code, and Public Resources Code sections related to cannabis/hemp cultivation.

• Directs penalty distributions differently based on violation location: violations on public lands or while trespassing direct 40% to Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund for forest remediation; violations on private consented land direct 40% to Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

• Administrative civil penalties collected by the Department of Fish and Wildlife are deposited into designated funds based on violation location, with remaining funds split 50/50 between Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund and Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

• Establishes procedures for administrative penalty imposition including written complaint, 20-day hearing request period, and final order issuance within 45 days, with judicial review available through writ of mandate within 30 days.