THE POLITICS OF CONSERVATION – CDA Bear Bill Narrowly Stalls – Set for 2026
In the article “CDA Takes Aim at Bears” in Spring 2025 Issue of California Deer, we dove into the substantial impact predation by mountain lions and black bears is having on the health of California’s deer herds – noting that, while our deer herds continue to crumble, the populations of these two apex predators are healthy and growing.
The article revealed that our growing mountain lion population is certainly having an increasingly devastating impact on California’s struggling deer herds. But the impact of mountain lions on deer pales in comparison to the damage being done by another apex predator – the black bear.
For more than twenty years, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) estimated the state’s black bear population to be between 30,000 and 40,000 animals. On April 14, 2025, CDFW released its long-anticipated update to their 1998 Bear Management Plan, confirming what we had suspected: California’s black bear population is projected at 60,000 animals – double earlier estimates.
The explosive growth in black bears –combined with steadily increasing mountain lion numbers – is placing unprecedented predation pressure on California’s already beleaguered deer herds. As these two apex predators continue to multiply and expand their range, the state’s deer are facing a mounting crisis – one that, left unmanaged, threatens to push them to the very edge of extinction.
But don’t take my word for it. CDFW’s updated “Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan for California” (Plan) documents the significant impact of bear predation on young deer. The Plan states that in areas studied “neonate mule deer born west of the Sierra Crest…were >6 times more likely to die of black bear predation than any other cause” and that “bear predation is also a common cause of mortality for black-tailed deer fawns in the Mendocino National Forest.”
Above and beyond the substantial impact bear predation is having on young fawns, the Plan also documents the significant impact bears have upon adult deer. The Plan states that “Within the Mendocino National Forest, black bears frequently displaced mountain lions from their kills, a behavior called kleptoparasitism. Elbroch et al. (2015) research found black bears at 77% of mountain lion kills, and black bears displaced mountain lions from them 72% of the time. Black bear kleptoparasitism caused mountain lions to increase their kill rates substantially to recoup energetic losses to black bears” (Elbroch et al. 2015, Allen et al. 2021) and mountain lion ungulate kill rates in this system were the highest reported for the species across their range (Allen et al. 2021, Cristescu et al. 2022).”
Wrapping it all up, the Plan concludes that “Collectively, high rates of predation on fawns and kleptoparasitism of mountain lion kills by black bears have likely contributed to declining deer population size in this area (Wittmer et al. 2014, Marescot et al. 2015).”
The California Deer Association (CDA) knew something had to be done. Recognizing that hunting was no longer an option for keeping mountain lion populations in check but remained a tool for bringing bear populations back in balance, CDA partnered with the California Houndsmen for Conservation (CHC) to co-sponsor Assembly Bill 1038.
Authored by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick (R-Redding), AB 1038 would provide wildlife managers and those responsible for public safety with science-based tools for the responsible management of California’s overabundant black bear populations. This important legislation breaks down into two parts: First, AB 1038 would enhance public safety while preserving the wild nature of bears by requiring the California Fish and Game Commission to designate specific seasons during which permitted houndsmen may use dogs in the non-lethal pursuit of bears. The intent being to reestablish the natural fear bears have of humans by hazing them out of human-populated areas with dogs.
Second, AB 1038 would not mandate a hunting season during which houndsmen may use dogs to pursue bears, but it would restore the authority of the Commission to do so, if they deemed it necessary, in areas identified by CDFW as requiring management. The intent being to help bring overabundant black bear populations back in balance with their ecosystem and prey.
Facing fierce opposition from numerous animal-rights groups, AB 1038 was brought before the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee on April 29th. Heading into the hearing, opponents were confident – expecting yet another easy win on the heavily skewed playing field of the California State Capitol. But thanks to the tireless advocacy of CDA, CHC, and a united front of conservation allies, the outcome was anything but routine.
After receiving testimony from the support and opposition to AB 1038, and a series of questions to both sides from the dais, the vote roll was called. Seven “aye” votes were needed for AB 1038 to pass out of the 13-member Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. With nearly all expecting AB 1038 to suffer a quick and overwhelming defeat, the bill quickly racked up six “aye” votes against only three “no” votes. With AB 1038 needing just one more vote to pass, the committee took a five-hour, nerve-wracking recess.
Our lobbying team quickly hit the Capitol Halls again to visit the four offices that had not yet voted – seeking that single needed “aye” vote. After several intense hours of outreach, the committee reconvened and called the roll for the remaining members. Despite our best efforts, that final, elusive “aye” vote never came. AB 1038 ultimately fell short, with the final tally standing at six “aye” votes, four “no” votes, and three members abstaining.
But AB 1038 is not dead yet. Assembly Member Hadwick quickly asked the committee for “reconsideration” of the bill – a motion that, if carried, allows a measure that failed to be heard again in committee. On a unanimous vote, the committee agreed to allow the bill to be heard again.
Due to legislative deadlines, the bill cannot be heard again in committee until January 2026, during the second year of the 2025/2026 Legislative Session.
In the meantime, CDA, CHC, and our partners in conservation will continue to work the halls of the Capitol to secure that one elusive “aye” vote needed to move this critical legislation forward. At the same time, among other things, we are actively countering the misinformation spread by animal-rights activists about the use of trained hounds in the field. To provide clarity and transparency, CDA and CHC are organizing a field trip for key state legislators – offering them a firsthand, real-time demonstration of what ethical, responsible hound pursuit actually looks like in practice.
Beyond the Bear Bill: State Capitol in High Gear
With the Memorial Day weekend now freshly behind us, we will soon enter the sixth month of the “new” 2025/2026 State Legislative Session. Friday, May 23rd, served as the deadline for fiscal committees to hear and pass to the Floor legislation introduced in their house. As the first major hurdle for bills to cross in the 2025 Session, several bills were held for this year, while others continued their legislative journey by moving to the Floor. With the June 6th deadline for legislation to pass out of its house of origin only about a week away, activity at our State Capitol is at its peak.
Below is a summary of the status of just a few of the many other bills CDA is currently working at California’s State Capitol on behalf of California’s deer and those who pursue them in the field.
AB 724 (Zbur) – Fur-Bearing and Nongame Mammals: Trapping Licenses
As introduced February 14, 2025, AB 724 by Assembly Member Rick Chavez Zbur (D/51-Los Angeles) is a spot bill which would make a nonsubstantive change to current law which requires a person who traps fur-bearing mammals or nongame mammals to procure a trapping license from CCDFW and pay a specified fee.
CDA has closely watched this legislation for amendments which capture its true intent. Our concerns include the impact the bill could, once amended, have on the hunting of coyotes and the state’s ability to manage skyrocketing coyote populations and the increasing damage they are doing. Further, adverse changes to regulations pertaining to the hunting of coyotes are currently being pressed by animal-rights interests in the California Fish and Game Commission theater. AB 724 can certainly also be viewed as a “back-up” plan to change the law, should their efforts to change the regulations fail at the Commission level.
Having not been referred to and heard in Assembly policy committee prior to legislative deadline, AB 724 is now a “two-year” bill which cannot be considered until January 2026. Still remaining in spot bill form, AB 724 will have to take on more substantive language before it can referred to committee and set to be heard early next year.
AB 902 (Schultz) – Transportation Planning and Programming: Barriers to Wildlife Movement
Existing law requires certain transportation planning agencies to prepare and adopt regional transportation plans directed at achieving a coordinated and balanced regional transportation system.
As amended May 23, 2025, AB 902 by Assembly Member Nick Schultz (D/44-Burbank) would require a lead agency to incorporate appropriate wildlife passage features to feasibly avoid, minimize, and mitigate further impairment to wildlife connectivity into a transportation infrastructure project in a connectivity area that may significantly impair wildlife connectivity. AB 902 would allow a lead agency to use compensatory mitigation credits to satisfy these requirements if CDFW concurs with the use of those credits. As recently amended, AB 902 would exempt a project on the state highway system from this requirement if Caltrans is the lead agency. The bill would only apply to projects with a project initiation phase beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Double-referred to the Assembly Committee on Transportation and the Assembly Committee on Local Government, AB 902 was first heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee on April 21st, passing out and to the Assembly Local Government Committee on a 11-2 vote. AB 902 was then withdrawn from the Assembly Local Government Committee and referred directly to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. AB 902 was then heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 23rd, amended, and passed out to the Assembly Floor on an 11-2 vote.
AB 902 must be voted on and passed off the Assembly Floor by June 6th to meet legislative deadline.
AB 933 (Ávila Farías) – Organized Residential Camps: Organized Day Camps
Existing law establishes standards for the operation, regulation, and enforcement of organized camps, and regulations governing the operation of organized camps that are necessary to protect the health and safety of the campers. Existing law also requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt minimum fire safety regulations for organized camps. Among other things, existing law also adopts a definition for “organized camp” and “camper.”
Existing law also prohibits an organized camp from operating unless the minimum standards for organized camps prescribed in the building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to organized camps, and in other rules and regulations adopted by the Director of Public Health and the State Fire Marshal, are satisfied. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. Existing law requires the Department of Social Services (DSS), within a specified time period, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature regarding approaches for children’s camp health and safety regulation and oversight, and specified recommendations and cost estimates.
As introduced February 19, 2025, AB 933 by Assembly Member Anamarie Ávila Farías (D/15-Concord)
would rename “organized camp” to “organized residential camp” and make other related changes. The bill would define “organized day camp” to mean a site where the primary purpose is to provide a group experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives, that has programs and facilities attended by 5 or more children 3 to 17 years of age, inclusive, and that operates for more than 3 hours per day for at least 5 days during any 12-month period. AB 933 would define “living experience” to mean an overnight camp for 5 days or more. The bill would change the definition of “camper” to mean any person in an organized residential camp or an organized day camp on a fee or nonfee basis who is a participant in the regular program and training of an organized residential camp or an organized day camp, and who may take on duties relating to that program and training.
AB 933 would specify that the rules and regulations relating to organized residential camps adopted by the State Public Health Officer and the State Fire Marshal would also apply to organized day camps, except for those regulations that are applicable to a living experience. The bill would require every local health officer to also enforce within their jurisdiction the building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to organized day camps.
AB 933 would expand the above-described prohibition to operate unless certain minimum building standards are satisfied to organized day camps. The bill would also make any violation of those standards, or of any building standard published in the State Building Standards Code relating to organized day camps, or any other rule or regulation adopted by the State Public Health Officer or the State Fire Marshal, in the operation of organized day camps, a misdemeanor.
Existing law requires DSS, no later than 24 months after the date funds have been appropriated for this purpose, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature regarding approaches for children’s camp health and safety regulation and oversight. AB 933 would make its provisions pertaining to organized day camps inoperative after DSS promulgates regulations pursuant to that report.
The above noted DSS report was mandated by the passage of AB 262 (Holden) during the 2023/2024 Session. CDA worked closely with Ducks Unlimited, and the California Rifle and Pistol Association throughout that Session to successfully secure amendments to AB 262 which ensure wildlife conservation, shooting organizations, and CDFW were appropriately represented in the stakeholder group the DSS was to establish and consult with in preparing that report.
Although well intended, AB 933 goes far beyond the lengths of what reasonable steps could be taken to further ensure participant safety at children’s camp. Youth recreational camps – especially those supported by CDA and other small nonprofit conservation groups to educate youth on wildlife conservation, our hunting, fishing, and archery pastimes, and firearms safety – operate very safely overall, with every effort taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the participants. AB 933 would result in unnecessary and costly regulations being placed on these recreational camps – leaving the nonprofits that run them no choice but to pass the additional costs on to the participants, or to absorb the increase in their own budget. The result being fewer organizations offering recreational camps and few, if any, middle-to-low-income youth being able to attend the few camps which remain.
AB 933 was double-referred to the Assembly Committee on Health and the Assembly Committee on Emergency Management but was not heard in either committee. Having missed the legislative deadline for being heard and passed out of policy committee, AB 933 is now a “two-year” bill which cannot be considered until January 2026.
AB 1169 (Gonzalez) – Wildlife Grants: SHARE Program
In 2003, recognizing that much of California’s game was on private property, and few of California’s hunting public could afford to pay exorbitant fees to gain access, the wildlife conservation community successfully sponsored AB 396 – legislation which directed CDFW to work in partnership with nonprofit conservation groups, landowner organizations and others to establish the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement Program, or “SHARE”. Authored by Assembly Member Tom Harman (R/67-Los Angeles), AB 396 authorized CDFW to enter into voluntary agreements with private landowners to provide public access to their lands for hunting and other wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
AB 396 also capped the compensation CDFW could offer to a private landowner at $30 per acre, or $50 per public participant per day. Twenty-two years later, SHARE has proven to be successful with roughly 100,000 acres of private land enrolled in the program. However, the cap on the financial compensation CDFW can offer private landowners has slowed enrollment as landowners with quality hunting to be offered on their properties have chosen more lucrative options for providing public hunter access.
As amended May 23, 2025, AB 1169 by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez (R/36-Coachella)
would address this concern by increasing the required cap on financial compensation offered to private landowners pursuant to the SHARE program to $52 per acre, or $87 per public participant per day, and would require those figures to be adjusted annually for inflation.
In addition, while current law states that the SHARE Program shall be a partnership of CDFW and nongovernmental organizations, CDFW has not done so in a significant way – even though some organizations have excellent relationships with private landowners, operate their own outdoor access programs, or even own their own land. To address this concern, AB 1169 would require CDFW to contract some of the work necessary to carry out the Program to nonprofit conservation groups.
AB 1169 was heard in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on April 8th, passing out and to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a unanimous vote with a recommendation that the bill be placed on consent. AB 1169 was then heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 23rd, amended, and passed out to the Assembly Floor on a unanimous vote.
AB 1169 must be voted on and passed off the Assembly Floor by June 6th to meet legislative deadline.
AB 1187 (Celeste Rodriguez) – Firearms: Safety Certificates
Existing law requires any person who purchases or receives a firearm to possess a firearm safety certificate. Existing law also prohibits a person from selling or transferring a firearm to any person who does not possess a firearm safety certificate. A violation of either of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law requires a personal firearm importer, within 60 days of bringing any firearm into this state to, among other things, submit a report including information concerning that individual and a description of the firearm to DOJ.
As amended April 10, 2025, AB 1187 by Assembly Member Celeste Rodriquez (D/43-Arleta) would require that personal firearm importer to also obtain a valid firearm safety certificate and include a copy of the valid firearm safety certificate within the report to DOJ. The bill would prohibit a person from bringing a firearm into the state without obtaining a valid firearm safety certificate within 60 days, except as specified.
In addition, AB 1187 would require an applicant for a firearm safety certificate, on or after July 1, 2027, to complete a training course no less than 8 hours in length that, among other things, includes instruction on firearm safety and handling and live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range.
AB 1187 was heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee on April 8th, passing out and to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a party-line vote. AB 1187 was then heard and held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 23rd. Failing to pass out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and to the Assembly Floor by the May 23rd legislative deadline, AB 1187 is now a “two-year” bill and cannot receive any further consideration until January 2026.
AB 1316 (Addis) – Hunting Licenses: Information on Firearms
As introduced February 21, 2025, AB 1316 by Assembly Member Dawn Addis (D/30-San Luis Obispo)
would require CDFW, beginning July 1, 2027, to ensure that every person who purchases a hunting license receives, at minimum, information on certain topics related to firearms, including the safe storage of firearms, liability for parents and guardians who should have known their child could access a firearm at home, basic California firearm laws, and how to legally transfer or relinquish a firearm.
To obtain a hunting license, an individual must take a Hunter Education course. The course, which is the equivalent of ten hours of class time, not only teaches hunter ethics and skills, it is loaded with instruction on gun laws, firearms safety, and safe firearms storage. AB 1316 would only be duplicative of the detailed instruction on firearms laws and safety students receive in the Hunter Education class. Further, the cost of the materials the bill would require CDFW to distribute with hunting licenses would surely be paid for out of the Fish and Game Preservation Fund – the account where license revenues are deposited. As such, the cost of producing these materials would only take away from the monies those who purchase hunting licenses generate for wildlife management, research, hunting opportunity, and other beneficial CDFW duties.
AB 1316 was heard in the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on April 29th, passing out and to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a party-line vote. AB 1316 was then heard and held in Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 23rd.
Failing to pass out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and to the Assembly Floor by the May 23rd legislative deadline, AB 1316 is now a “two-year” bill and cannot receive any further consideration until January 2026.
SB 427 (Blakespear) – Habitat Conservation Fund
In June 1990, the voters of California passed Proposition 117, “The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990”. Among other things, the Act created the Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) and guaranteed the fund $30 million annually for 30 years for the acquisition, restoration and enhancement of habitat necessary to protect wildlife and plant populations. In 2019 – when the HCF was set to expire the following July – CDA and other conservation organizations worked hard to help successfully convince the Legislature and the Governor to extend the annual allocation to the HCF through July 1, 2030.
Since the passage of Proposition 117 thirty-five years ago, HCF has proven to serve as a highly effective and efficient program for assisting California’s conservation efforts throughout the entire state. In fact, in the last decade alone, the HCF has protected and/or restored well over one million acres of deer and mountain lion habitat, wetlands, aquatic and riparian habitat, and wildlife corridors.
As introduced February 18, 2025, SB 427 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D/38-Encinitas) would remove the current HCF sunset date of July 1, 2030 and allow the important annual transfer of these funds into the HCF, and the critical benefits they provide to our wildlife and fishery resources, to continue in perpetuity.
SB 427 was heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 8th, passing out and to the Senate Appropriations Committee on a unanimous vote. SB 472 was then heard and held in Senate Appropriations Committee on May 23rd.
Failing to pass out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and to the Senate Floor by the May 23rd legislative deadline, SB 427 is now a “two-year” bill and cannot receive any further consideration until January 2026.
SB 718 (Dahle and Allen) – Hunting and Sport Fishing Licenses: Reduced Fees
As amended May 23, 2025, SB 718 by Senators Megan Dahle (R/1-Redding) and Benjamin Allen (D/24-El Segundo) would require DFW, until January 1, 2031, to issue a reduced fee hunting license to a qualified recipient who is a resident of the state and has not been convicted of a violation of the Fish and Game Code and who has provided documentation demonstrating eligibility for any of the following programs:
(A) Medicaid or MediCal.
(B) The LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program.
(C) The California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
(D) CalFresh or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
(E) The federal Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF) grant program.
(F) A tribal Head Start program.
(G) Supplemental Security Income.
(H) MediCal for Families (Healthy Families A and B).
(I) The federal National School Lunch Program.
(J) The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance program.
(2) “Qualified recipient” means a person eligible for either of the following:
(A) The California Alternative Rates for Energy program.
(B) The Family Electric Rate Assistance program.
In addition, SB 718 would amend existing law to add “qualified recipient” (above) to those who shall be eligible to receive a reduced fee fishing license.
As amended, SB 718 would also require the CDFW to submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2029, that evaluates the effect of the reduced fee for hunting and sport fishing licenses, as specified. SB 718 was heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 22nd, passing out and to the Senate Appropriations Committee on a unanimous vote. SB 718 was then heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 23rd, passing out to the Senate Floor on a 6-0 vote.
SB 718 must be voted on and passed off the Floor and to the Assembly by June 6th to meet legislative deadline.
SB 818 (Alvarado-Gil) – Mountain Lions: Pilot Program: Permitted Houndspersons
As gutted and rewritten with hostile amendments on May 1, 2025, SB 818 would have required CDFW to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in El Dorado County, including by exercising its authority to authorize non-lethal procedures. As newly amended, SB 818 would have required the CDFW to develop and implement a grant program to assist eligible applicants to obtain, install, and maintain equipment and other measures in El Dorado County to protect livestock and domestic animals and minimize activities that attract mountain lions into communities. Further, SB 818 would have required CDFW to continue and expand its scientific research effort in El Dorado County to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from communities and to prevent habituation. In implementing these programs, the bill would have required CDFW to engage in specified public outreach activities. SB 818 would have authorized CDFW to expand these programs to areas outside of El Dorado County. The above provisions of SB 818 would have sunset on January 1, 2032.
As amended May 1, 2025, SB 818 would have also required CDFW to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2030, describing these programs, the results of the programs, the number of department personnel involved in the programs, and recommendations to further improve the programs to protect human health and safety. SB 818 would have required the Director of DFW, until the 2033 calendar year, to appear on an annual basis at a hearing before one of the specified committees of the Legislature to provide a status update on the programs.
Prior to being gutted and amended with hostile amendments, SB 818, as amended April 21, 2025, by Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R/4-El Dorado Hills), would have allowed for a regulated program under which CDFW approved houndsmen with properly trained hounds could haze nuisance lions out of problem areas in a way that was both humane and effective. Coined “Taylen and Wyatt’s Law”, SB 818, as previously written, was an effort by Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil to take steps to increase the safety of the public of El Dorado County that she represents.
Houndsmen have historically used dogs to pursue mountain lions throughout our nation. But since the passage of Proposition 117 in 1990, this practice has been prohibited in California. Having not been pursued by hounds for over 35 years, these once highly elusive animals have lost their fear of humans – leading to regular human encounters, the fatal attack on Taylen Brooks one year ago, and an unacceptable increase in domestic animal predation in El Dorado County.
Research shows that non-lethal pursuit of mountain lions with trained dogs is an effective way to restore their natural wariness of humans and encourage them to avoid populated areas. As amended April 21, 2025, SB 818 would have authorized this proven practice to enhance public safety and mitigate the escalating loss of domestic animals by gently pushing nuisance lions out of areas they should not be, while also restoring their natural wariness of humans and dogs, before they get into real trouble and ultimately must be dealt with via lethal take. Further, as previously written, SB 818 would have also helped gather valuable data to inform future mountain lion management strategies in El Dorado County and beyond.
The lion that attacked the Brooks brothers had been in trouble before but had never been hazed by dogs. Experts conclude that, had the lion that attacked Taylen and Wyatt previously been hazed by hounds, he would never have approached them.
SB 818, as amended April 21st, was heard in Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 22nd but failed to pass on a party-line vote. The committee then granted the bill “reconsideration” via another party-line vote – allowing the bill to be heard again in committee. The committee then used a party-line vote for the third time to gut out the language Senator Alvarado-Gil had worked with the Brooks family and Gaines & Associates to place in the bill and replace it with their own hostile amendments. The amendments forced into the bill fully deleted the core of the bill which was to promote public safety by allowing permitted private houndsmen to haze problem lions away from areas they should not be, replacing it with language which promotes only actions county residents are already doing to protect livestock.
SB 818, as gutted and amended, then passed out of the Senate Natural and Resources and Water Committee to the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 818 was then heard and held in Senate Appropriations Committee on May 23rd. SB 818 is dead.
SB 818, as originally written, was sponsored by the Family of Taylen and Wyatt Brooks with the assistance of Gaines & Associates.