Assembly BillFailedPenal
AB 297: Arson: penalties.
What AB 297 does, verified February 3, 2026
This bill aims to increase penalties for felony arson. A person convicted of felony arson would face additional punishment if they cause multiple structures to burn in a single incident. The bill also proposes to increase penalties for those who cause 500 or more acres of forest land to burn. This would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill does not require reimbursement for certain costs mandated by the state.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| Mar. 04, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted. |
| Feb. 10, 2025 | Referred to Com. on PUB. S. |
| Jan. 24, 2025 | From printer. May be heard in committee February 23. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, January 23, 2025 · 575 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 297
| Introduced by Assembly Members Hadwick and Sanchez |
January 23, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 451.1 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 297, as introduced, Hadwick. Arson: penalties.
Existing law requires that a person who is convicted of felony arson, in addition to the term of imprisonment for the felony, be punished by a 3-, 4-, or 5-year enhancement if one or more of any specified circumstances is found to be true, including that the defendant caused multiple structures to burn in a single violation.
This bill would additionally authorize the 3-, 4-, or 5-year enhancement for a person who proximately causes 500 or more acres of forest land to burn. By expanding the scope of the enhancement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 451.1 of the Penal Code is amended to read:451.1.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person who is convicted of a felony violation of Section 451 shall be punished by a three-, four-, or five-year enhancement if one or more of the following circumstances is found to be true:(1) The defendant has been previously convicted of a felony violation of Section 451 or 452.
(2) A firefighter, peace officer, or other emergency personnel suffered great bodily injury as a result of the offense. The additional term provided by this subdivision shall be imposed whenever applicable, including any instance in which when there is a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 451.
(3) The defendant proximately caused great bodily injury to more than one victim in any single violation of Section 451. The additional term provided by this subdivision shall be imposed whenever applicable, including any instance in which when there is a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 451.
(4) The defendant proximately caused multiple structures to burn in any a single violation of Section 451.
(5) The defendant committed arson as described in subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 451 and the arson was caused by use of a device designed to accelerate the fire or delay ignition.
(6) The defendant proximately caused 500 or more acres of forest land to burn in a violation of Section 451.
(b) The additional term specified in subdivision (a) shall not be imposed unless the existence of any fact required under this section shall be is alleged in the accusatory pleading and either admitted by the defendant in open court or found to be true by the trier of fact.
SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.Text of AB 297 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions