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SB-651 • 2026

Food and agriculture.

Food and agriculture.

Agriculture
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Grove
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary specifies that the changes are nonsubstantive.

Changes to How Laws About Food and Agriculture Are Interpreted

This law makes small, nonsubstantive changes to how courts should interpret laws related to food and agriculture.

What This Bill Does

  • It updates the way courts look at laws related to food and farming in civil cases.
  • It updates the way courts look at laws related to food and farming in criminal cases.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Courts that deal with cases about food and agriculture

Terms To Know

Civil actions
Legal disputes between individuals, groups, or businesses.
Criminal actions
Cases where the government charges someone with breaking a law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change any actual laws about food and agriculture.
  • It only changes how courts should interpret existing laws.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2025-03-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on RLS.

  3. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  4. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 651, as introduced, Grove.
Food and agriculture.
Existing law, in civil actions, requires the provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code to be liberally construed to accomplish specified purposes. Existing law, in criminal actions, requires the provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code to be construed according to the fair import of their terms, as provided.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the above-described provisions involving the construction of the provisions of the Food and Agricultural Code.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF