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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-20</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Richardson</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_ORIGINATING">(Coauthor: Senator Weber Pierson)</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
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<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Richardson</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 4775) to Part 3 of Division 4 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to wildlife. </ns0:Title>
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<ns0:Subject>Wildlife: bears.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Natural Resources Agency. Under existing law, the department has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those species.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the department to develop and make publicly available a roadmap for the reintroduction of grizzly bears in California and would require the roadmap be developed consistent with, and include, among other things, a scientific assessment based on the best available data, as specified, and a consultation with California Native American tribes, as specified. The bill would also require the department, by June 30, 2028, to submit the roadmap document to relevant budget and policy committees of the
Legislature, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the Fish and Game Commission. The bill would prohibit reintroduction of the grizzly bear in the state until the department or others have carried out various actions, including, among other things, a scientific determination regarding the biological and ecological viability of establishing a self-sustaining grizzly population in the state, and a consultation with California Native American tribes and engagement with communities, as specified.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the California Grizzly Restoration Act.</html:p>
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<ns0:BillSection id="id_9F623097-3406-4739-A0AA-4C4BB03BFE5C">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 4775) is added to Part 3 of Division 4 of the
<ns0:DocName>Fish and Game Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>9.5.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Grizzly Bears</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>4775.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) is a California keystone species known for its powerful influence on ecosystem structure and function. Through their ecological interactions, grizzly bears promote biodiversity and ecosystem heterogeneity by modifying vegetation composition and structure, regulating trophic dynamics, accelerating geomorphic processes, enriching soils with marine and terrestrial nutrients, dispersing seeds, and initiating secondary ecological processes. Prior to their extirpation in the 20th century, grizzly bears inhabited the majority of California’s ecoregions, except the hottest and most arid portions of the state. Contemporary conservation science recognizes the integral role of grizzly
bears in maintaining healthy, functioning ecosystems across their range. Their removal from California ecosystems contributed to cascading ecological effects that altered landscape structure, shifted species composition, and contributed to an overall loss of biodiversity in the state.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
California grizzly bears coexisted with the ancestors of contemporary California Native American tribes for thousands of years, forming longstanding ecological and cultural relationships. Though extirpated from California more than a century ago, the grizzly bear holds enduring cultural, religious, spiritual, and ceremonial significance for many California Native American tribes. Within the indigenous knowledge systems of California Native American tribes, the grizzly bear is recognized as a vital and honored relative, and its presence is reflected in the oral histories, cosmologies, teachings, traditional medicine, place names, governance structures, and
traditional lifeways.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Following the Gold Rush, widespread killing of grizzly bears by settlers, miners, ranchers, and government agents led to the complete extirpation of the species from California by 1924. This deliberate extermination represents the most significant loss of a native species in the state’s history and continues to have lasting adverse impacts by eliminating key ecological functions, reducing ecosystem resilience, and impacting California Native American tribes’ abilities to sustain cultural relationships, uphold traditional practices, and maintain reciprocal stewardship of the land.
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<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
California has since become a global leader in biodiversity science and conservation, recovering iconic native species such as the California condor, tule elk, humpback whale, southern sea otter, northern elephant seal, gray wolf, and the North American beaver from near or
complete extirpation. The recovery and restoration of extirpated native species is consistent with the state’s and state agencies’ public trust and statutory obligations to conserve, protect, and restore California’s endangered, threatened, and sensitive species. These species hold inherent, ecological, cultural, and social value.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
California grizzlies, Ursus arctos californicus, were long believed to represent an extinct subspecies and their presumed extinction by 1924 precluded consideration of reintroduction as a wildlife management option. However, recent genomic research has established they were not a distinct subspecies, but part of the broader North American grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population, which is currently distributed across Montana, Wyoming, and much of western Canada. This genetic continuity provides a scientifically supported source population from which potential restoration efforts may draw.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
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The reintroduction of the grizzly bear to California, as a means of restoring its historical ecological functions, is consistent with the objectives of the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3), the State Wildlife Action Plan, and the state’s biodiversity and climate resilience strategies, including the 30x30 goal established in Executive Order No. N-82-20. As a vital relative to many California Native American tribes, the emblem on the California State Flag, and the official state animal of California, the grizzly bear holds enduring cultural, historical, ecological, and symbolic significance. Reintroduction aligns with the state’s policy to maintain and restore healthy natural ecosystems that sustain communities, support the economy, provide for recreation, and preserve California’s history, culture, and traditions, while addressing the historic harms inflicted on wildlife, natural
systems, and indigenous peoples. Committing to its return reaffirms the state’s natural heritage and strengthens the connection between California’s ecological past and its conservation future.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_F92DAE2B-22D1-40DF-B498-4DAD9ED463D0">
<ns0:Num>4776.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
It is the policy of the state to restore the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), our official state animal, to California.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall develop and make publicly available on its internet website a roadmap for the reintroduction of grizzly bears in California. The roadmap shall be developed consistent with, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A scientific assessment based on the best available data, including habitat suitability, population modeling, long-term viability thresholds, and potential ecological impacts.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Consultation with California Native American tribes, with
priority given to tribes whose ancestral territories are encompassed by proposed reintroduction areas, and in coordination with the University of California, local governments, residents, landowners, stakeholders, and other experts in wildlife conservation and grizzly bear reintroduction.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Independent peer review drawing on the most qualified individuals, including tribal representatives, individuals from appropriate institutions within the state and from within the University of California system, and other qualified experts.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A framework for incorporating cultural, spiritual, and ecological values of California Native American tribes, including recognition of the grizzly bear’s significance to tribal traditions and land stewardship.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Identification of potential relocation areas based on ecological
criteria, land ownership, habitat connectivity, and the risk of human-wildlife conflict.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Description of management procedures, including animal handling, translocation logistics, postrelease monitoring, conflict response protocols, and standards for human–wildlife coexistence.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An estimate of implementation costs, including relocation, monitoring, community engagement, and conflict mitigation, along with an analysis of potential cultural, ecological, and socioeconomic benefits.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(8)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Proposed regulations governing the taking and management of grizzly bears, consistent with state and federal wildlife laws and conservation objectives.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
By June 30, 2028, the department shall submit the roadmap document developed pursuant to subdivision (b) to the
relevant budget and policy committees of the Legislature, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the commission.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The roadmap document developed pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be made publicly available.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The roadmap submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any reintroduction of the grizzly bear in the state pursuant to the state’s policy to restore grizzly bears to California shall not be undertaken or authorized until all of the following occur, as carried out by the department or others:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Scientific determinations regarding the biological and ecological viability of establishing a self-sustaining grizzly population in the state.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Consultation with California Native American tribes and engagement with communities, including local residents, landowners, and other stakeholders in or near proposed reintroduction areas, through public meetings and other outreach efforts intended to inform the public about the proposed reintroduction and its potential effects, if any, on ongoing human activities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Adoption of procedures that minimize risk of conflict to human life and property.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Adoption of procedures that promote the welfare of grizzly bears involved in restoration efforts.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Promulgation of regulations that set forth the circumstances in which the taking of grizzly bears may be authorized consistent with the conservation of the species.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Sections 3011, 3950, 4185, 4750, 4751, 4752, 4753, 4754, 4755, 4757, 4758, 4759, 4760, 4763, and 12157, as they relate to bears, shall not apply to grizzly bears.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
It is the intent of the Legislature that the department and the commission be provided with sustainable funding sufficient to fully implement this section and the resulting obligations. The grizzly bear is recognized as an umbrella species whose conservation supports a broad range of ecological and wildlife management goals. Budgeting for grizzly bear reintroduction offers an opportunity to align and leverage funding for habitat restoration, species recovery, and human-wildlife coexistence initiatives within and surrounding reintroduction areas.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding any other law, the department may accept and, subject to an
appropriation for this purpose, expend funds from any public or private sources to administer this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the commission or department pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3).
</html:p>
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