The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contracts with a lobbyist focused on hunting and wildlife in Sacramento who contributed to this update.

The 2025 California State Legislative Session ended on Sept. 13. Gov. Gavin Newsom has until mid-October to sign or veto any bills that reach his desk.

Wildlife and Hunting Bills

AB902 by Assembly Member Nick Schultz (D/44-Burbank) would require a government agency to incorporate appropriate wildlife passage features to avoid, minimize and mitigate further impairment to wildlife connectivity into a transportation infrastructure project in a connectivity area. This measure was still in committee and is now a two-year bill that can be taken up in 2026.

SB427 by Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D/38-Encinitas) would extend the annual funding of the Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) mandated by Prop. 117 for five more years to 2030. The HCF receives $30 million annually for habitat. This bill went to the governor for signature.

AB1038 by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick (R/01-Redding) 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. The legislation has two parts: First, it would require the California Fish and Game Commission to designate specific seasons during which houndsmen may use dogs in the nonlethal 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, it would not mandate a hunting season during which houndsmen may use dogs to pursue bears but would restore authority for the commission to do so if deemed necessary in areas identified as requiring management. The intent is to bring overabundant black bear populations back in balance with their ecosystem and prey. While the bill failed on 6-to-4 committee vote, several members abstained, and the committee agreed to possibly let the bill be heard again in 2026.

AB1169 by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez (R/36-Coachella) would raise the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement Program (SHARE) payments by increasing the cap on compensation offered to private landowners to $52 per acre, or $87 per public participant per day, and would require those figures to be adjusted annually for inflation. SHARE creates public access to private lands, but the rates have not increased since the program’s establishment 22 years ago, leading to waning interest from private landowners. The bill received help in the California Senate Appropriations Committee and can be heard in 2026.

Gun Bills

By California standards, the 2025 session received light activity on gun control bills.

AB1127 is headed to the governor’s desk and would effectively ban Glock pistols that can be illegally converted to automatic fire with the use of a so-called “Glock switch.”

SB704 may affect hunting rifle barrels by treating the firearm part the same as a full firearm, requiring sales to be conducted exclusively through FFL dealers. Lawmakers also sent that bill to the governor.

(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)