H.B. 1524 Summary

• Requires persons sentenced for theft of agricultural products to pay restitution to the property owner for the value of stolen goods and the cost of replanting.

• Defines "agricultural product or commodity" to include floricultural, horticultural, viticultural, aquacultural, forestry products, shrubbery, nuts, coffee, seeds, and other farm or plantation products for personal or commercial use.

• Makes it second-degree theft to possess agricultural commodities marketed for commercial purposes without maintaining a required certificate of ownership under chapter 145.

• Establishes that failure to maintain ownership certificates for agricultural commodities is a violation subject to prosecution under theft statutes.

• Takes effect July 1, 2020.