Governor Newsom signs A.B. 460 into law, increasing fines for water theft to $10,000 per day in California
California – California has passed stricter sanctions for anybody caught stealing water from its rivers in a major step toward tightening control on the illicit diversion of water supplies. Signing A.B. 460 into law this past weekend, Governor Gavin Newsom emphasizes the state’s determination to preserve its limited water supplies among continuous drought and climate problems by significantly increasing fines for such offenses.
Previously, penalties were far lower, which officials claimed had little effect to discourage illegal water siphoning. One group of ranchers in Siskiyou County, for example, paid just $4,000 penalty for taking water from the Shasta River—a penalty that came to about $50 per person . Such minimal fines have been criticized for being useless, more of a smack on the wrist meant to deter repeat behavior.
Penalties for infractions under the new rule will surge to $10,000 daily, a dramatic rise from earlier levels. This increase seeks to make the fines a real deterrent instead of only a nominal corporate cost. Associate director of policy at California Trout, which co-sponsored the bill, Analise Rivero praised the law as a “massive victory” for environmental protection. Rivero said earlier that a $50-per-person fine is not precisely what she would call a deterrent. She thinks the new law will cause possible offenders to reconsider illegally diverting water.
The increased fines come at a time when California is under extreme environmental pressure, including increasing temperatures and prolonged drought cycles that have severely affected the state’s water supplies and the ecosystems depending on them. Extensive conservation policies have been forced upon the state administration to control and protect its vital water supplies.
A.B. 460 not only raises fines but also imposes more strict punishments for other forms of water management infractions. Starting in 2026, anyone who violate permit requirements or floodwater diversion reporting duties for groundwater recharge will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 daily for every day the infringement takes place, therefore doubling the present punishment of $500 per day.
The bill also specifies even more sanctions for violations of “curtailment orders”—directives issued by the State Water Resources Control Board to limit water consumption in certain watersheds when supply levels are extremely low. Under these circumstances, violators will be liable to the highest fine of $10,000 daily plus an extra $2,500 for every acre-foot of water diverted.
These revised fines help the state to more successfully enforce its water rules and safeguard its natural resources, which are essential not only for the environment but also for the livelihoods depending on stable and sustainable water supplies. Rivero captures the attitude of environmentalists and thinks the fines are significant now. The new regulation in effect could truly force people to reconsider breaking these rules.
