This page contains archives, listed by year, of state and federal bills that California Waterfowl has sponsored, supported or opposed. It includes links to bills and supporting materials.

Skip to year:

2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

Current year

Duck and pheasant breeding habitat fee - BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
AB 614 (Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters): This CWA-sponsored bill will add $10 to the state upland bird and waterfowl validations to give a much-needed boost to California's waterfowl and pheasant breeding populations, which are suffering habitat declines. The revenue would support the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, which was created by AB 2697 (James Gallagher, R-Yuba City) in 2018, but not funded.

• Click here to read our coalition letter of support (PDF).
• Click here to read a legislative staff analysis (PDF) of the bill.
• Click here to see a photo gallery of the bill author's tour of a field full of nesting mallards.
• Click here to participate in our action alert asking the governor to sign this bill.

• Click here to read a legislative staff analysis (PDF) of the bill.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

Biodiversity Protection and Restoration Act - Bill did not pass
AB 564 (Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, and Ash Kalra, D-San Jose): This bill would have codified a 2020 executive order by Gavin Newsom making it a goal of the state to protect 30% of its lands and 30% of its coastal waters by 2030 - an action taken following the failure of a bill (AB 3030) that would have done the same thing. While CWA supported the overaching goal of the bill, it opposed AB 3030 in part because of concerns that "protection" might translate to closing some lands and waters to hunting and fishing. CWA joined other outdoor groups in expressing interest in working with the governor to ensure our concerns are addressed in the executive order's implementation, and remains engaged in that process. But CWA is part of a coalition of outdoor interests that opposed this bill - click here to read our letter of opposition (PDF) - concerned that it would have expanded the scope of the executive order prematurely and would have tied the hands of state and local governments on land-use decisions.

Dog breeding permits/fees - Bill did not pass - thanks to all who participated in our action alert!
AB 702 (Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles): This bill would have imposed restrictions, conditions and fees on dog breeders.

• Click here to read an article about this bill's demise.

Firearm and ammunition tax - Bill did not pass before session ended, but it is still alive and could be taken up again as early as December
AB 1223 (Marc Levine, D-San Rafael): This bill would have imposed an 11% excise tax on rifles, shotguns, and new and reloaded ammunition sold at retail, and a 10% excise tax on new handguns, to fund the California Violence Intervention and Prevention Firearm and Ammunition Tax Fund. 

• Click here to read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF).
• Click here to read a legislative analysis (PDF) of the bill.
• Click here to participate in our action alert - your help is still needed because the bill can still be taken up in the next session!

Bear hunting ban - Bill was withdrawn
SB 252  (Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco): This bill would have made it illegal to hunt, trap, or otherwise take a bear, except under specified circumstances, including under a depredation permit. There is no scientific basis for such a ban, which would deprive the Department of Fish and Wildlife $1.3 million a year in bear tag revenue. Click here to read a Sacramento Bee article about the bill (subscription may be required).

Ban firearms/ammunition sales on state and county lands - BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
SB 264 (Dave Min, D-Irvine) This bill will prohibit allowing the sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts or ammunition on the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF).

• Click here to read our coalition letter urging the governor to veto the bill (PDF).
• Click here to read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF).
• Click here to read an article about the bill.
• Click here to read a legislative staff analysis (PDF) of the bill.

2020 legislation

STATE

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

Duck and pheasant breeding habitat fee – bill did not pass
AB 2106 (Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters): This CWA-sponsored bill would add $5 to the state upland bird and waterfowl validations to give a much-needed boost to California's waterfowl and pheasant breeding populations, which are suffering habitat declines. The revenue would support the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program, which was created by AB 2697 (James Gallagher, R-Yuba City ) in 2018, but not funded. The incentive program can pay farmers and other landowners, including private duck clubs, to fallow, grow cover crops like vetch or enhance existing nesting habitat. If a landowner wanted to also open the field to public pheasant hunting, for example, he or she could be paid to provide that public benefit too. Monies could also be used on state wildlife areas and national wildlife refuges to improve breeding habitat on those lands and thus increase public land hunter opportunity. In a survey last year, 74% of CWA members and supporters said they would support the additional fee to boost breeding habitat. Click here to read our letter of support (PDF).

Free hunting days – bill did not pass
AB 2299 (James Gallagher, R-Yuba City): Would require the state to establish two free hunting days per year, one in the fall and one in the spring, starting no later than July 1, 2021. Click here to read our coalition letter of support (PDF).

Hunting and fishing guides – bill did not pass
AB 2429 (Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks): Would professionalize guiding by updating requirements.

Groundwater sustainability plan impacts on wetlands – bill did not pass
AB 2502 (Bill Quirk, D-Hayward): This CWA-sponsored bill would require groundwater sustainability plans to include impacts on managed wetlands leading to a net loss of wetland acreage in the state. Under the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), California has begun efforts to regulate groundwater use to prevent overdrafting, which depletes aquifers and causes subsidence. Duck clubs in the Tulare Basin are facing groundwater cutbacks that threaten their very existence, even though flooded wetlands help recharge aquifers. Learn more about the issue here and read our coalition letter of support here (PDF).

Junior hunting license age extension – bill did not pass
AB 3022 (Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia): This CWA-sponsored bill would extend for one more year the ability for hunters under the age of 18 on July 1 to purchase a junior hunting license, as opposed to the more expensive adult license. The extended eligibility has helped families save money and allowed youth to continue participating in special youth hunting opportunities. The 2014 legislation that extended eligibility for the youth license will sunset this year in the absence of legislative action. Click here to read our letter of support (PDF).

BILLS WE OPPOSED

Budget trailer bill – the final bill left the Habitat Conservation Fund alone
This budget-related bill would sunset the Habitat Conservation Fund this year, only a year after it was extended to 2030. This fund provides $300 million over the next 10 years to purchase wildlands for the public, establish conservation easements on private land and enhance the habitat values of existing public lands. These funds are used on state wildlife areas open for waterfowl hunting. Click here to read a coalition letter of opposition to read a coalition letter of opposition, signed by 73 organizations (PDF), and click here to read the coalition's June 10 letter to the governor (PDF).

Rodenticide ban – this bill passed and was signed by the governor
AB 1788 (Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica): Would effectively ban all second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. Click here to read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF), and click here for links to growing problems with rat infestations (PDF).

New restrictions on dog training facilities – bill did not pass
AB 2691 (Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda): Would impose on dog trainers and dog training facilities the same requirements imposed on pet boarding facilities. Click here to read our letter of opposition (PDF).

Long gun storage in unattended vehicles – bill did not pass
AB 3058 (Kansen Chu, D-Milpitas): This 2019 bill has returned with some changes, but still requires long guns in unattended vehicles to either be locked in a car's trunk using a cable or chain and lock, or locked in a container that is permanently affixed to the car in the trunk or out of plain view, or that is affixed to the vehicle by cable chain and lock in the trunk or out of plain view – something that may be impossible for SUV owners to comply with. Unlike last year's bill, this AB 3508 exempts the vehicles of on-duty law enforcement officers, which would have increased costs to the state. Click here to read our letter of opposition (PDF).

Ban on lead ammunition at shooting ranges – bill did not pass
AB 3071 (Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo): Would prohibit selling, giving away or shooting lead ammunition at shooting ranges.

Climate Resilience Bond – bill did not pass
SB 45 (Benjamin Allen, D-Santa Monica, et al): Would authorize $5.5 billion in bonds for a wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection program. CWA supports elements of this bill related to investments for the Pacific Flyway and proposes some amendments. Click here to read our letter about SB 45 (PDF).

New restrictions on youth camps – bill did not pass
SB 217 (formerly SB 955) (Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge): Would impose additional licensing and staffing requirements on camps, such as the ones California Waterfowl offers. Click here to read our letter of opposition (PDF).

Use of dogs to hunt deer – bill did not pass
SB 1041 (Ben Hueso, D-San Diego): This bill would prohibit the use of dogs for hunting deer at any time and would authorize the Department of Fish and Wildlife to kill any dog that is injuring or threatening to injure a deer. Click here to read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF).

Expanding mariculture activities in coastal bays and estuaries – bill did not pass
SB 1093 (Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco): Would expand mariculture in coastal bays and estuaries, which could affect eelgrass habitat used by brant. Click here to read our letter of opposition (PDF).

Banning import of African animal parts – bill did not pass
SB 1175 (Henry Stern, D-Canoga Park): This bill seeks to stop certain types of legal hunting by Californians by banning the possession of parts – even meat – of certain "iconic" African animals: African elephant, African lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, giraffe, Jentink’s duiker, plains zebra, mountain zebra, hippopotamus and striped hyena. The law would apply to anything not in a person's possession as of Dec. 31, 2020, and would carry fines of $5,000 to $40,000 per incident. The Legislature passed this bill in 2018, but it was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Click here to read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF).

Protecting 30% of state's land and waters – bill did not pass
AB 3030 (Ash Kalra, D-San Jose): This bill would declare it a goal of the state to protect at least 30 percent of the land areas and waters within the state and 30 percent of the ocean waters off the coast of California by 2030. Ambiguity in the bill needs to be resolved to avoid resulting in unnecessary closures of hunting and fishing. Click here to read our coalition letter of opposition (PDF). Update: In October 2020, the governor penned an executive order to achieve some of what this bill would have done. Click here to read more about the action.

FEDERAL

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW S. 3051 (Barrasso, R-WY): The America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act includes an array of priority conservation provisions, including reauthorizing the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), and amending the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to allow states greater flexibility in the use of funds to recruit and retain sportsmen and women. The bill enjoyed strongly bipartisan passage by the Environment and Public Works Committee and represents an important step forward in addressing growing challenges to species and habitat health. Click here to read our coalition letter of support (PDF), click here to read a coalition press release on House passage, and click here to read U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson's press release.

PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW S. 3422 (Gardner, R-CO): The Great American Outdoors Act would provide $900 million annually to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which ensures protection of and access to irreplaceable lands while also supporting recreational facilities in communities across the country. It also includes up to $9.5 billion over five years to address priority repairs to infrastructure managed by the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education Schools. Click here for more information (PDF).

H.R. 2 (DeFazio, D-OR): The Moving Forward Act, if amended, would increase funding for restoring damaged water-supply infrastructure and needed ecosystem improvements to respond to the impacts of a changing climate, and provide additional safe drinking water grant funding for disadvantaged communities facing water shortages. Click here to read our coalition letter of support (PDF) for the Costa amendment to this bill.

H.R. 1435 (Garamendi, D-CA-3): The Sites Reservoir Project Act would direct the Secretary of the Interior to take actions supporting non-federal investments in water infrastructure improvements in the Sacramento Valley, and for other purposes. Click here to read our letter of support (PDF), and click here to read more about the bill.

H.R. 3724 (Dingell, D-MI): The Recovering America's Wildlife Act of 2019 would put Americans back to work expanding recreational infrastructure, restoring our natural resources, and investing in on-the-ground projects in every state, territory, and tribal lands. Click here to read a coalition letter (PDF) urging Congress to include this bill in a future infrastructure or economic recovery package.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2019 LEGISLATION

2018

State

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

12-month fishing license - did not pass
SB518 (Berryhill, R-Modesto): Bill would make fishing licenses valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, instead of for the calendar year. View our letter (PDF) here.

Suppressors for long guns and hunting - failed in committee
SB 1092 (Anderson, R-Alpine): Bill would legalize suppressors for long guns and allow their use in hunting. View our letter (PDF) here.

Combo hunting-fishing license - did not pass
SB 1311 (Berryhill, R-Modesto): CWA-sponsored bill that would create a discounted annual combination hunting and fishing license. View our letter (PDF) here.

Nesting habitat incentive - passed and signed by governor
AB 2697 (Gallagher, R-Yuba City): CWA-sponsored bill that would create a waterfowl and upland game bird nesting habitat incentive program for farmers who wish to fallow a portion of their land. View our letter (PDF) here.

Veteran hunting licenses and 12-month fishing licenses - did not pass
AB 986 (Gallagher, R-Yuba City): Would reduce the cost of hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged California veterans. The bill also gives anglers a license option that is valid for 12 consecutive months from date of purchase. View our letter (PDF) here.

Apprentice hunter tags - passed and signed by governor
AB 2151 (Gray, D-Merced): Would reduce the price of resident antelope, elk, bear and bighorn sheep tags for apprentice hunters to $20. View our letter (PDF) here.

Winter flooding of rice - passed and signed by governor
AB 2348 (Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters): Would allow the Department of Fish and Wildlife to enter into contracts with private landowners and help offset the costs of winter flooding of rice. View our letter (PDF) here.

Free hunting days - did not pass
AB 2670 (Kiley, R-Roseville): Would require the state to offer two free hunting days each year, once in fall and once in winter. No hunting license would be required to hunt on those days, but the unlicensed hunter would have to be accompanied by a licensed hunter. View our letter (PDF) here.

Pig tag fee reduction - did not pass
AB 2805 (Bigelow, R-O'Neals): Would reduce the fee for a wild pig tag to $15. View our letter (PDF) here.

Non-lead ammunition - failed in committee
AB 3117 (Mathis, R-Visalia): Would temporarily suspend the non-lead ammunition mandate for hunting if the F&G Commission finds that a specific caliber of non-lead ammunition is not available to the public. View our letter (PDF) here.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

Ammunition tax – bill did not pass
AB 2497 (Cooper, D-Elk Grove): Would impose an additional tax on both the sellers and purchasers of firearms and ammunition. View our letter (PDF) here.

Dog transportation restrictions - passed but vetoed by governor
AB 2362 (Rubio, D-West Covina): Would place temperature, ventilation and lighting restrictions on the transportation of dogs by breeders and other for-profit entities, which includes dog breeders and hunting guides who use dogs. View our letter (PDF) here. Note: This bill was amended to our satisfaction to omit for-profit entities; we no longer actively oppose it. View the amendment here. View the governor's veto message (PDF) here.

Firearms as raffle prizes – bill did not pass
AB 3199 (Holden, D-Pasadena): Would allow charitable organizations to hold no more than three events per year where firearms could be offered as raffle prizes. View our letter (PDF) here. Read our statement here.

Dealer inspection requirements – bill did not pass
SB 459 (Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge): Would increase inspection requirements for licensed firearms dealers.

Importing African animal parts - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 1487 (Stern, D-Canoga Park): Would have prohibited importing parts of the following animals from Africa, even when legally hunted: African elephant, African lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, giraffe, Jentink’s duiker, plains zebra, mountain zebra, hippopotamus and striped hyena; and created fines of $5,000 to $40,000 for the first offense. View our letter (PDF) here. View governor's veto message (PDF) here.

Federal

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

Federal Sportsmen's Act - did not pass
S.733 (Murkowski, R-AK): Would make it U.S. policy to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting, noncommercial fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities on federal land; conserve and enhance aquatic systems and the management of game species and the habitat of those species on federal land; and consider hunting, noncommercial fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities as part of all federal plans for land, resource, and travel management.

Federal Farm Bill - passed and signed by president
The 2018 Farm Bill is currently being debated in the U.S. Congress. There are a number of provisions being considered that would benefit waterfowl conservation and hunters. This includes funding for the Conservation Reserve Program, which particularly benefits nesting waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole region; the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, which provides grants to states to open private lands to public hunting (such as California’s SHARE Program); and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which provides grants to states for conservation initiatives on private lands. The Farm Bill delivers over $5 billion in conservation funding annually, and provides significant benefits to farmers, landowners and sportsmen across the country. CWA is working with a host of other waterfowl conservation partners and sporting interests to help pass a Farm Bill with continued strong conservation elements. View our letter (PDF) here.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2017

STATE

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

Pesticide alternatives - passed and signed by governor
AB 718 (Frazier, D-Discovery Bay), to reduce mosquito spraying costs to private landowners. View our letter (PDF) here, and our press release here.

Park bond - companion bill (SB 5) signed into law
AB 18 (multiple authors), to authorize the issuance of $3 billion in bonds for various climate, water, park, wildlife and recreational purposes. View our letter (PDF) here.

Elk tags - bill did not pass
AB 521 (Frazier, D-Discovery Bay), to reduce the price of a resident elk tag. View our letter (PDF) here.

Waterfowl nest-cover incentives - bill did not pass
AB 472 (Frazier, D-Discovery Bay), to faciliate the establishment of waterfowl nesting on fallowed lands, including those involved with water transfers. View our letter (PDF) here.

Rice field flooding - bill did not pass
AB 832 (Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters) to help offset the cost of winter flooding rice fields. View our letter (PDF) here.

12-month fishing license - bill did not pass
SB 187 (Berryhill, R-Modesto), which would create a new annual fishing license that is valid for 12 months after the date of purchase (currently, fishing licenses expire on Dec, 31, regardless of the date of purchase). View our letter (PDF) here.

Tri-colored blackbirds - bill did not pass
SB 532 (Dodd, D-Napa), to grant the California Department of Fish and Wildlife the discretion to enter into Safe Harbor Agreements with landowners for tricolored blackbirds. View our letter (PDF) here.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

VETOED BY GOVERNOR: Firearm dealer requirements - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 464 (Hill, D-San Mateo), to require licensed firearms dealers to install concrete or steel barriers to prevent theft. View our letter (PDF) here.

Sentence enhancements - passed and signed by governor
SB 620 (Bradford, D-Gardena), to allow a judge skip sentence enhancements for people convicted of using firearms in the commission of a crime. California Waterfowl opposed this bill because it lessens the responsibility of criminals for their illegal use of firearms in heinous crimes at the same time the Legislature is continuing to impose increasingly burdensome regulations on lawabiding gun owners.

Long gun open carry - passed and signed by governor
AB 7 (Gipson, D-Carson), to prohibit carrying an unloaded firearm other than a handgun within certain areas of public lands or streets. View our letter (PDF) here.

Authority to allow guns on school grounds - passed and signed by governor
AB 424 (McCarty, D-Sacramento), to remove the authority of local education officials to decide whether anyone should be allowed to possess a firearm on school grounds. View our letter (PDF) here.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2016

STATE

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

Elk tags - bill did not pass
AB 1792 (Wood, D-Healdsburg), to require the F&G Commission to allocate a specific number of elk tags to federally-recognized Indian tribes in California for the purpose of cultural or religious ceremonies or celebrations.

Veteran hunting licenses - bill did not pass
AB 1844 (Gallagher, R-Yuba City), to require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain the above-described licenses by an unspecified percentage for a person who is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States and is a resident of California.

Disabled veteran hunting license - bill did not pass
SB 1081 (Morrell, R-Rancho Cucamonga ), to require the department to issue a free hunting license, upon application to the department, to a disabled veteran or recovering service member and would require the department, to issue a reduced fee hunting license, upon application and payment of a fee of $5, to a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who was honorably discharged.

DFW management plans - bill did not pass
SB 1191 (Berryhill, R-Modesto), CWA- sponsored bill to strengthen and clarify DFW's and the Fish and Game Commission's responsibilities to hunting.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

One long gun a month - passed but vetoed by governor
AB 1674 (Santiago, D-Los Angeles), to prohibit the purchase, including a private party transaction, of more than one long gun (i.e. shotgun or rifle) within a 30-day period.

Reporting gun theft - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 894 (Jackson D-Santa Barbara), to require every person, with exceptions, to report the theft or loss of a firearm he or she owns or possesses to a local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the theft or loss occurred within 5 days of the time he or she knew or reasonably should have known that the firearm had been stolen or lost, and requires every person who has reported a firearm lost or stolen to notify the local law enforcement agency within 48 hours if the firearm is subsequently recovered.

Assault weapons - bill did not pass
AB 1663 (Chu, D-Milpitas), to classify a semiautomatic centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept no more than 10 rounds as an assault weapon.

Securing handguns - passed and signed by governor
SB 869 (Hill, D-San Leandro), to require a person, when leaving a handgun in a vehicle, to secure the handgun by locking it in the trunk of the vehicle or locking it in a locked container and placing the container out of plain view.

Assault weapons - passed and signed by governor
SB 880 (Hall, D-South Bay), to revise the definition of “assault weapon” to mean a semiautomatic centerfire rifle, or a semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of those specified attributes.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2015

STATE

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

Requiring consultation with DFW - passed and signed by governor
AB 498 (Levine, D-San Rafael), to make it the policy of the state, with regard to a project (e.g., urban development, major roads or other infrastructure) proposed in an area identified as a wildlife corridor, to encourage the project proponent to consult with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and, wherever feasible, take steps to protect or restore the functioning of the wildlife corridor.

Local government interference with hunting - bill did not pass
AB 665 (Frazier, D-Discovery Bay), CWA-sponsored bill to keep cities, counties, park districts and other local governments from restricting or interfering with hunting, fishing and depredation activities. The bill also requires the Fish & Game Commission to consider public safety in drafting annual regulations over the taking of fish and game, and reinforces the right to hunt on state-owned navigable waters.

Managed wetlands' impact on water quality - bill did not pass
SB 615 (Berryhill, R-Modesto), CWA-sponsored bill to require that managed wetlands be presumed to not pose a significant threat to water quality, and would require, with respect to managed wetlands, the state and regional water boards to waive certain reporting and monitoring requirements.

Firearm possession by archery hunters - bill did not pass
AB 499 (Cooley), to authorize a person engaged in archery deer hunting who is licensed to carry a concealed firearm to possess that firearm in the field.

Increasing participation in fishing - bill did not pass
SB 345 (Berryhill, R-Modesto), to make changes to the fishing licensing system and gamefish possession laws that would facilitate greater public participation in fishing.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

Firearm confiscation for minor non-violent offenses - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 347 (Jackson), to confiscate someone’s firearms for a 10-year period for relatively minor (non-violent) violations of the law.

Banning sale of antique ivory products - passed and signed by governor
AB 96 (Atkins), to ban the sale of products made from ivory prior to June 1, 1977, such as antique firearms and knives.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2014

STATE

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

SIGNED INTO LAW: Junior hunting license - passed and signed by governor
AB 1709 (Frazier, D-Discovery Bay): This CWA-sponsored bill expands the junior hunting license age eligibility by two years effective July 1, 2015, reducing costs for young hunters and providing them increased access to some special youth hunting opportunities.

Pittman-Robertson funds - passed and signed by governor
SB 1434 (Wolk, D-Davis): This CWA-sponsored bill will increase accountability and transparency over the state’s use of Pittman-Robertson Act funds generated from firearms and ammunition sales. SB 1434 also establishes the Duck Stamp Advisory Committee within the F&G Code, allowing it to provide recommendations to the Department of Fish and Wildlife on waterfowl- and wetland-related projects funded with Pittman-Robertson money.

Proceeds of big game tags - passed and signed by governor
AB 2105 (Frazier, D-Discovery Bay) (1) lets a DFW-authorized nonprofit organization that assists in the sale of big game mammal hunting tags to retain 5 percent of the sale price of the tag and (2) raises the fee for a nonresident Nelson bighorn sheep tag to generate more funds for game conservation purposes.

Drought relief for state wildlife areas - passed and signed by governor
The governor signed a $5 million drought-related wetland water budget item in June that aids state wildlife areas. CWA actively lobbied the Legislature for its approval. This much-needed funding is already being used for groundwater pumping and other fall wetland water purposes, including the flooding of public hunting areas.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

Ammunition purchases - bill did not pass
SB 53 (De Leon, D-Los Angeles): Would have banned the Internet and mail-order sale of ammunition and would have required that ammunition purchasers register with the state. The bill also would have imposed fees and other requirements on ammunition vendors.

Gun violence restraining order - signed into law, but amended
AB 1014 (Skinner, D-Oakland): Creates a “Gun Violence Restraining Order” that requires a person to surrender all guns and ammunition to law enforcement for up to one year, and the order can be renewed annually. In response to opposition by CWA and other interests, the author amended the bill to provide for greater due process for the person who is the subject of the order, increase the burden of proof for obtaining an order, and limit those who could petition a court for an order to law enforcement, immediate family members, licensed therapists and licensed health care providers.

Mosquito abatement - signed into law, but amended
AB 896 (Eggman, D-Stockton): Would have required DFW to implement mosquito control best-management practices on its lands without providing funding to do it, and without regard for whether the practices would hurt waterfowl habitat. In response to CWA and DFW opposition, the bill was amended to require DFW only to consult with local mosquito control districts about those areas on DFW lands in greatest need for abatement.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2013

STATE

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

Possession limits - passed and signed by governor
SB 392 (Berryhill, R-Modesto), 1) helps clarify game bird possession definitions, including when the possession of legally taken gamebirds ends by processing them into food and, 2) allows for unintentional or minor gamebird possession violations to be prosecuted as infractions (rather than only misdemeanors).

Cover crops, hunter input, funding - passed and signed by governor
SB 749 (Wolk, D-Davis), 1) makes it state policy under the Water Code to encourage a landowner to grow a cover crop (i.e. vetch) for gamebird habitat purposes on fallowed land as a result of a bona fide water transfer, 2) allows licensed hunters a more formal opportunity to provide input on the hunt programs on State Wildlife Areas; and 3) ensures that agricultural lease monies generated on state wildlife areas are available for land management and operations purposes. View our letter (PDF) here.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

Allowing Oakland to regulate firearms - passed but vetoed by governor
AB 180 (Bonta, D-Alameda): The bill would have allowed the City of Oakland to enact a local ordinance that would regulate the registration or licensing of firearms. View our letter (PDF) here.

Firearm theft reporting - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 299 (DeSaulnier, D-Concord): SB 299 would have imposed criminal penalties on any firearm owner who failed to report the theft or loss of a firearm within seven days. View our letter (PDF) here.

"Assault weapons" - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 374 (Steinberg, D-Sacramento): This bill would have reclassified all semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines as “assault weapons,” making it illegal to buy or sell them, and requiring existing owners to register these types of firearms. View our letter (PDF) here.

Ammunition tax- bill did not pass
AB 187 (Bonta, D-Alameda): AB 187 would have added a 10 percent tax on all ammunition sold in California. View our letter (PDF) here.

Ammunition tax- bill did not pass
AB 760 (Dickenson, D-Sacramento): This bill would have placed a 5-cent tax on each piece of ammunition sold in California. View our letter (PDF) here.

Ammunition regulation- bill did not pass
SB 53 (De León, D-Los Angeles): SB 53 would have 1) required all ammunition purchasers to annually register (including a background check) and pay a fee of up to $50, 2) ban Internet and mail order purchases of shotgun and rifle ammunition, and 3) put new requirements and fees on ammunition vendors. View our letter (PDF) here.

Unsecured firearms- bill did not pass
SB 108 (*Yee, D-San Francisco): This bill would have made it illegal for gun owners not to secure firearms – even unloaded ones – while they are outside of their homes or even any temporary residence such as a motel or motor home. View our letter (PDF) here.
*Leland Yee is in federal prison through 2020 on racketeering charges for crimes including gun trafficking - read more here.

Ammunition sharing - signed into law but amended to remove objectionable provisions
AB 48 (Skinner, D-Oakland): As introduced, AB 48 would have required someone furnishing ammunition to another person or business to obtain proper identification from the purchaser, be an authorized firearms dealer and submit a report to the Department of Justice. View our letter (PDF) here.

Firearm owner liability - signed into law but amended to remove objectionable provisions
AB 231 (Ting, D-San Francisco): As introduced, the bill would have held firearm owners strictly liable for the accidental injury or misuse of his/her firearm. View our letter (PDF) here.

Long gun safety test - signed into law but amended to remove objectionable provisions
SB 683 (Block, D-San Diego): SB 683, as introduced, would require anyone purchasing or receiving a shotgun or rifle to first pass a safety test and pay a $15 fee. It was amended to exempt licensed hunters. View our letter (PDF) here.

Lead ammunition for hunting - passed and signed into law
AB 711 (Rendon, D-Lakewood): AB 711 bans the use of lead ammunition for the taking of wildlife by the year 2019. View our letter (PDF) here.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2012

STATE

BILLS WE SUPPORTED

DFG lands - passed and signed by governor
SB 1249 (Wolk, D-Davis), a CWA-sponsored bill, 1) makes hunting a legally protected, compatible use of DFG lands; 2) makes it easier for conservation nonprofits like CWA to assist with the management of DFG lands, including the administration of hunt programs; 3) requires that all non-hunting/fishing users of DFG lands purchase a pass to provide additional funding for land management activities; and 4) increases accountability and transparency over the expenditure of County Fish and Game fine monies. View our letter (PDF) here.

Promoting conservation nonprofits - passed and signed by governor
SB 1107 (Berryhill, R-Modesto), a CWA-sponsored bill, allows hunting and fishing nonprofits like CWA to promote their conservation work on DFG’s Automated License Data System, including providing a link to their web page. View our letter (PDF) here.

Penalties for serious poaching violations - passed and signed by governor
AB 1162 (Chesbro, D-Arcata), a CWA-sponsored bill, increases financial and other penalties for serious poaching violations, with the revenues earmarked for game conservation and public hunting purposes. The bill also makes technical changes to the Fish and Game Code trespassing statutes to make them more landowner-friendly. View our letter (PDF) here.

Administrative costs of hunting tags - bill did not pass
SB 1166 (Berryhill, R-Modesto) – California Outdoor Heritage Alliance-sponsored bill that would allow conservation nonprofits selling hunting tags on behalf of DFG to recoup 10% for administrative reimbursement. Bill also clarified that conservation projects and public hunting purposes are the primary purpose of the Big Game Management Account. Despite broad bipartisan support and lobbying by CWA and COHA, this measure died due to state fiscal concerns. View our letter (PDF) here.

Land acquisition by Wildlife Conservation Board - passed and signed by governor
SB 1266 (Corbett, D-Hayward), which would ensure that appraisals for land acquisitions by the Wildlife Conservation Board, which includes lands transferred to DFG, contain information necessary to ensure the fair market value. With the support of CWA and many other conservation groups, this measure was signed into law. View our letter (PDF) here.

Reduced license fees for Wounded Warriors - passed and signed by governor
SB 1288 (Harman, R-Pasadena), which would allow for reduced fee hunting licenses for wounded, active duty military personnel (i.e. “Wounded Warriors”). View our letter (PDF) here.

BILLS WE OPPOSED

Trapping practices - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 1480 (Corbett, D-Hayward), which would have banned certain trapping practices used to control nuisance wildlife. Before the bill was vetoed, CWA was successful in obtaining amendments to exempt the use of conibear traps to control beaver and muskrats in managed wetlands and other aquatic habitats. View our letter (PDF) here.

Open carry of long guns - signed into law, but amended
AB 1527 (Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge), which banned the open carry of unloaded shotguns and rifles in certain public places. CWA was successful in obtaining language to exempt licensed hunters traveling to and from hunting activities or participating in hunting dog training.

F&G fines - bill did not pass
AB 2179 (Allen, R-Huntington Beach), which would have established a new civil penalty process for Fish and Game violations to allow for hunting license revocation and fines of up to $20,000 for any F&G Code violation or regulation, including infractions and other minor violations. Due to opposition from CWA and many other allied sporting and landowner groups, the bill died on the Senate Floor. View our letter (PDF) here.

Changing DFG to DFW - passed and signed into law
AB 2402 (Huffman, D-San Rafael), which, among other provisions, changed the name of the Department of Fish and Game to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The measure also allowed the F&G Commission to determine certain hunting and fishing license fees (as opposed to the state Legislature) and consolidate certain game species accounts to improve efficiencies.

Bay Delta Conservation Plan deadlines - passed but vetoed by governor
SB 250 (Rubio, D-Shafter), which would have created arbitrary deadlines for the implementation of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), leaving considerably less time for a necessary waterfowl habitat impact analysis and development of appropriate mitigation measures. Due to opposition from CWA and many other conservation and water groups, this bill died early in the Session.

Civil action for F&G violations - signed into law, but amended
SB 1148 (Pavley, D-Agoura Hills), which, among other provisions, would have allowed special interest groups to exercise a private right of civil action for alleged violations of the Fish and Game Code. The bill would also have made all F&G Code violations “strict liability” offenses, thereby prohibiting judges in certain cases from considering intent or other relevant circumstances. Due to opposition from CWA and many other sporting and landowner groups, these two provisions were removed entirely from the bill. SB 1148 was signed by the Governor. View our letter (PDF) here.

Banning hounds for bear and bobcat hunting - passed and signed into law
SB 1221 (Lieu, D-Los Angeles County), which banned the use of dogs for hunting bears and bobcats. CWA strongly opposed this legislation, mostly due to its: 1) infringement on the Fish and Game Commission’s regulatory jurisdiction; 2) loss of hunting-related revenue for game conservation activities; and 3) precedent for legislatively banning other types of hunting with dogs. Despite coordinated efforts by CWA and many other sporting and landowner groups, the bill was signed into law. View our letter (PDF) here.

Skip to year: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012