Bill Text: CA SB1019 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 1019

Bill Title: California Cargo Theft Task Force.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced) 2026-05-14 - May 14 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. [SB1019 Detail]

Download: California-2025-SB1019-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate April 23, 2026

Amended IN Senate March 25, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1019

Introduced by Senator Grove

February 10, 2026

An act to add Title 7 (commencing with Section 14000) to Part 4 of the Penal Code, relating to crime prevention and investigation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1019, as amended, Grove. California Cargo Theft Task Force.

Existing law establishes various programs to prevent crime, coordinate the efforts of law enforcement, and collect and analyze criminal statistics. Existing law specifically establishes a regional property crimes task force to assist local law enforcement and railroad police in counties identified as having elevated levels of property crime, including, but not limited to, organized retail theft, cargo theft, vehicle burglary, and theft of vehicle parts and accessories. Under existing law, the Attorney General is the chief law officer of the state and the head of the Department of Justice.

This bill would require the Attorney General to establish the California Cargo Theft Task Force to combat crimes involving the theft, diversion, embezzlement, unlawful taking, or fraudulent acquisition of cargo or freight. The bill would prescribe the membership of the task force. The bill would require the task force, among other duties, to investigate, apprehend, and recommend for prosecution, as appropriate, individuals or entities that engage in cargo theft or related offenses. The bill would require the Attorney General, on or before January 1, 2028, and each year thereafter, to submit a report to the Governor, Legislature, and Secretary of State on the activities of the task force, as specified. The bill would define terms for its purposes.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Title 7 (commencing with Section 14000) is added to Part 4 of the Penal Code, to read:

TITLE 7. California Cargo Theft Task Force

14000.

The Attorney General shall establish the California Cargo Theft Task Force to combat crimes involving the theft, diversion, embezzlement, unlawful taking, or fraudulent acquisition of cargo or freight. The task force shall focus on offenses involving cargo moving in, constituting, or affecting interstate or intrastate commerce.

14001.

The following definitions shall apply to this title:

(a) “Cargo” means merchandise, goods, or wares that are transported or intended to be transported in commerce, including goods at any stage of the supply chain from origin to final destination, whether the goods are moving or temporarily stored.

(b) “Cargo theft” includes the unlawful taking or appropriating of cargo or freight, including theft accomplished through fraud, deception, misrepresentation, or identity manipulation, from a commercial motor vehicle, trailer, railcar, intermodal container, warehouse, freight facility, distribution center, or other location within the supply chain, whether the cargo is moving in interstate or intrastate commerce.

14002.

The membership of the task force shall include a task force commander, two law enforcement investigators, two police or security professionals employed within the rail or freight transportation industry, and any additional law enforcement personnel designated by the Attorney General.

14003.

The task force shall do all of the following:

(a) Meet regularly to review investigations and intelligence and to provide updates on ongoing cases to task force members.

(b) Investigate, apprehend, and recommend for prosecution, as appropriate, individuals or entities that engage in cargo theft or related offenses, including organized or repeat offenders and persons who knowingly facilitate, finance, or receive stolen cargo for financial gain.

(d) Review, investigate, and recommend for prosecution appropriate cases referred by federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies.

(e) Coordinate with law enforcement agencies and industry stakeholders to identify emerging cargo theft trends and ~~methods~~ methods, to collect data on cargo theft in California, and to recommend prevention strategies.

14004.

(a) On or before January 1, 2028, and each year thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the Governor, Legislature, and Secretary of State on the activities of the task force. The report shall include all of the following, to the extent applicable:

(1) A summary of investigations, prosecutions, and enforcement actions taken by the task force.

(2) Information regarding trends and patterns related to cargo theft in this ~~state.~~ state, including data on cargo theft rates and the value of cargo stolen in California.

(3) The amount and type of stolen cargo recovered.

(4) Any recommendations for legislative or policy action relating to criminal penalties, enforcement tools, or interagency coordination to reduce cargo theft and protect the economy of this state.

(b) A report submitted to the Legislature shall comply with Section 9795 of the Government Code.