SB 1212
Endangered wildlife: kangaroos.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Natural Resources and Water
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- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill amends California law to create an exception for the commercial import, possession, and sale of kangaroo parts within the state. This exception applies only to kangaroos harvested in accordance with Australian law, the federal Endangered Species Act, and relevant international conventions. The bill also makes technical changes to existing sections of the Penal Code regarding prohibited wildlife trade.
Key provisions
- Exempts kangaroos harvested according to Australian, federal, and international laws from commercial trade restrictions.
- Updates Section 653o of the Penal Code to specifically include this exception for kangaroos.
- Adds a provision regarding the prohibition of importing crocodiles and alligators starting January 1, 2020.
- Adds a provision regarding the prohibition of importing iguanas, skinks, caiman, hippopotamus, or Teju, Ring, or Nile lizards starting January 1, 2022.
- Specifies penalties for violating the existing wildlife trade prohibitions, including fines and potential jail time.
- Clarifies that the prohibitions against wildlife trade are separate and can be enforced individually.
- Makes technical amendments to Section 16 of the Penal Code, which defines crimes and public offenses.
- Addresses the severability of the prohibitions against wildlife trade.
Who is affected
- Wildlife traders and importers in California
- Australian kangaroo farmers and exporters
Arguments in favor
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SB1212:v98#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Senate March 25, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1212
| Introduced by Senator Jones |
| February 19, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 16 of the Penal Code, relating to criminal law. An act to amend Section 653o of the Penal Code, relating to criminal law.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1212, as amended, Jones. Criminal law. Endangered wildlife: kangaroos.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to import into the state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state the dead body, or a part or product thereof, of a polar bear, leopard, ocelot, tiger, cheetah, jaguar, sable antelope, wolf, zebra, whale, cobra, python, sea turtle, colobus monkey, kangaroo, vicuna, sea otter, free-roaming feral horse, dolphin or porpoise, Spanish lynx, or elephant.This bill would exempt from that prohibition the import into the state for commercial purposes, possession with intent to sell, or sale within the state of kangaroos if they are harvested in accordance with Australian law, the federal Endangered Species Act, and applicable international conventions, as specified.
Existing law specifies that crimes and public offenses include felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NOYES Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 653o of the Penal Code is amended to read:
653o.
(a) (1) It is unlawful to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or a part or product thereof, of a polar bear, leopard, ocelot, tiger, cheetah, jaguar, sable antelope, wolf (Canis lupus), zebra, whale, cobra, python, sea turtle, colobus monkey, kangaroo, except as provided in paragraph (2), vicuna, sea otter, free-roaming feral horse, dolphin or porpoise (Delphinidae), Spanish lynx, or elephant.
(2) Kangaroos exempted under this paragraph shall be wild harvested pursuant to Australian federal, state, and territory law, the federal Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.), and applicable international conventions.
(b) (1) Commencing January 1, 2020, it is unlawful to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or a part or product thereof, of a crocodile or alligator.
(2) This subdivision does not authorize the importation or sale of any alligator or crocodilian species, or products thereof, that are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, or to allow the importation or sale of any alligator or crocodilian species, or products thereof, in violation of federal law or international treaty to which the United States is a party.
(c) Commencing January 1, 2022, it is unlawful to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or any part or product thereof, of an iguana, skink, caiman, hippopotamus, or a Teju, Ring, or Nile lizard.
(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months, or both that fine and imprisonment, for each violation.
(e) The prohibitions against importation for commercial purposes, possession with intent to sell, and sale of the species listed in this section are severable. A finding of the invalidity of any one or more prohibitions shall not affect the validity of any remaining prohibitions.
SECTION 1.Section 16 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
16.
Crimes and public offenses include all of the following:
(a)Felonies.
(b)Misdemeanors.
(c)Infractions.