Agriculture: neglected or abandoned crops: public nuisances: pests.

The document was reformatted from the official chaptered legislative format (with page numbers, 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGISLATION MATERIAL' header, and column layout) to a web-based bill tracking page format with navigation elements, search tools, version history links, and publication metadata.

The bill header changed from the enrolled format (showing Assembly and Senate passage dates) to the chaptered format showing 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' with Chapter number 440 and the Governor's approval date of October 7, 2025.

Page headers changed from 'AB 732' to 'Ch. 440' and page numbers shifted from 95 to 94 due to reformatting.

The Governor's signature block was completed with the initial 'O' in place of the blank approval line.

The bill no longer adds Section 5556, which would have redefined 'pest' for Chapter 7 purposes as only infectious/transmissible/contagious plant diseases or disorders characteristic of such diseases. The existing definition in Section 5006 (which is broader and includes animal and vegetable life forms) now applies unchanged.

The minimum notice period before a civil penalty may be levied was extended from 15 days to 30 days, giving property owners more time to respond before facing a penalty.

The good-faith cure period (time to rectify the violation and avoid liability for the civil penalty) was extended from 15 days to 30 days after receiving notice.

The deadline before a commissioner may increase the civil penalty from up to $500 per acre to up to $1,000 per acre was extended from 30 days to 45 days after issuance of the original penalty.

The required statement in the violation notice now includes an explicit reference to the right to appeal pursuant to Section 5311 of the Food and Agricultural Code, informing recipients of their appeal rights directly in the notice.

Procedural header changed from amendment dates to passage dates: 'Passed the Assembly September 13, 2025' and 'Passed the Senate September 12, 2025' replaced the prior amendment history lines.

The legislative counsel's digest dropped the phrase 'as amended' from the bill citation, reflecting that no further amendments were made after the final Senate version.

Added Governor's receipt and approval blocks at the end of the document, including a line for the date the bill was received by the Governor and a signature line for the Governor's approval.

New Section 5556 creates a chapter-specific definition of 'pest' limited to plant diseases and disorders characteristic of infectious/transmissible/contagious diseases, excluding biological control organisms and conservation practice standards (NRCS Field Office Technical Guide or Healthy Soils Program practices).

Section 5006 amendment remains but is renumbered as Section 3; changes are still nonsubstantive (cleaning up redundant 'Any' language and changing 'director' to 'secretary').

New Article 5 (Sections 5646-5647) authorizes county agricultural commissioners to levy civil penalties of up to $500 per acre (escalating to $1,000 per acre if not rectified within 30 days) in lieu of liens for pest-related nuisances from neglected or abandoned crops that cause economic or ecological damage to adjoining property.

Due process requirements include: minimum 15-day advance notice with right to be heard and review evidence; referral to nearest UC Cooperative Extension office; inclusion of UC IPM website in notice; bilingual notice in English plus any language spoken by over 10% of county residents; good faith rectification within 15 days of notice eliminates penalty liability.

Civil penalty moneys are deposited into the county general fund and allocated to the commissioner for enforcement costs. Fiscal committee review is now required (changed from 'no' to 'yes').

The new civil penalty article sunsets on January 1, 2035.

Bill scope expanded from a single section amendment (pest definition cleanup) to adding two new sections, a new article with two sections, and repealing the sunset provision structure - now covering definitions, enforcement mechanisms, and funding.