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Measure SB 765
Authors Niello  
Subject State snake.
Relating To relating to state government.
Title An act to add Section 422.6 to the Government Code, relating to state government.
Last Action Dt 2025-10-09
State Chaptered
Status Chaptered
Active? Y
Vote Required Majority
Appropriation No
Fiscal Committee No
Local Program No
Substantive Changes None
Urgency No
Tax Levy No
Leginfo Link Bill
Actions
2025-10-09     Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 482, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-09     Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-09     Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
2025-09-02     Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2406.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-07-08     In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-07-07     Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 2453.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-07-02     Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-07-01     From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 1).
2025-06-23     From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on W. P., & W.
2025-06-05     Referred to Com. on W. P., & W.
2025-05-28     In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-27     Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1237.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-04-09     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-04-08     From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 704.) (April 8).
2025-03-28     Set for hearing April 8.
2025-03-12     Referred to Com. on G.O.
2025-02-24     Read first time.
2025-02-24     From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
2025-02-21     Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Keywords
Tags
Versions
Chaptered     2025-10-09
Enrolled     2025-09-04
Amended Assembly     2025-06-23
Introduced     2025-02-21
Last Version Text 
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		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Niello</ns0:AuthorText>
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		<ns0:Title> An act to add Section 422.6 to the Government Code, relating to state government.</ns0:Title>
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			<ns0:Subject>State snake.</ns0:Subject>
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			<html:p>Existing law establishes the state flag and the state’s emblems, including, among other things, the poppy as the official state flower, the California redwood as the official state tree, and the California desert tortoise as the official state reptile.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would establish the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as the official state snake.</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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				<html:p>The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
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					(a)
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					The giant garter snake is endemic to California, meaning it can be found nowhere else in the world. This snake was historically found throughout the Central Valley,
				but now its range is limited to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys.
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					The giant garter snake is the largest of all garter snake species. Adult snakes have been documented to reach 64 inches in length.
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					The giant garter snake is an
				aquatic garter snake species and
				historically made its home in shallow,
				slow-moving streams, ponds, and marshes. Now, the snake is primarily found in agricultural areas, such as rice fields, where it uses irrigation ditches and canals, which resemble the natural marshes that had provided habitat for the snake.
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					The
				primary threats to the snake’s survival are habitat loss and degradation. Agricultural conversion and urban development have resulted in the loss of over 90 percent of the Central Valley’s historic wetlands, ultimately reducing and fragmenting giant garter snake habitat. Water diversions, dams, and pesticide use also contribute to giant garter snake habitat loss. Predation by nonnative species and vehicular traffic may also threaten the species directly. In response to these threats, the giant garter snake was listed as threatened under
				the California Endangered Species Act in 1971 and threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1993. Despite efforts under these Acts, the giant garter snake population has not recovered, and as California faces an uncertain future due to climate change, so does the survival of this uniquely Californian species.
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					Declaring the giant garter snake as the official state snake of California will acknowledge the important place of the species in the ecology, agriculture, and water resources of California, as well as broadcast and reinforce the state’s commitment to protecting
				endangered species.
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				Section 422.6 is added to the 
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Last Version Text Digest Existing law establishes the state flag and the state’s emblems, including, among other things, the poppy as the official state flower, the California redwood as the official state tree, and the California desert tortoise as the official state reptile. This bill would establish the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as the official state snake.