SB 1232
Mountain lions.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Rules
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Bill overview
This bill makes a minor adjustment to California law regarding the removal of mountain lions that are attacking livestock or domestic animals. Specifically, it clarifies the reporting requirements for landowners who take action to protect their animals. The law already allows for the immediate removal of mountain lions harming livestock, and this change streamlines the reporting process to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. It also outlines the department’s responsibilities for investigating depredation and issuing permits after a mountain lion is taken.
Key provisions
- Clarifies reporting requirements for landowners removing mountain lions attacking livestock or domestic animals.
- Requires reporting of mountain lion removal to the Department of Fish and Wildlife within 72 hours.
- Outlines the department's investigation process following a mountain lion removal.
- Specifies the department’s handling of recovered mountain lions or carcasses.
Who is affected
- Landowners
- Farmers
- Ranchers
- Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Mountain lions
Notable changes
- Streamlines the reporting process for landowners removing mountain lions that threaten livestock.
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SB1232:v99#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1232
| Introduced by Senator Alvarado-Gil |
| February 19, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 4807 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to mountain lions.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1232, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. Mountain lions.
Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the June 5, 1990, statewide primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act classifies the mountain lion as a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state, and makes it unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof. The act authorizes the take of mountain lions under limited circumstances, including by authorizing any mountain lion that is encountered while in the act of pursuing, inflicting injury to, or killing livestock, or domestic animals, to be taken immediately by the owner of the property or the owner’s employee or agent.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that take authorization.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 4807 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:
4807.
(a) Any mountain lion that is encountered while in the act of pursuing, inflicting injury to, or killing livestock, or domestic animals, may be taken immediately by the owner of the property or the owner’s employee or agent. The taking shall be reported within 72 hours to the department. The department shall investigate the depredation, and, if the mountain lion was captured, injured, or killed, the mountain lion or the entire carcass of the mountain lion which that has been recovered shall be turned over to the department. Upon satisfactorily completing the investigation and receiving the mountain lion or the carcass, if recovered, the department shall issue a permit confirming that the requirements of this section have been met with respect to the particular mountain lion taken under these circumstances.
(b) The department shall undertake a complete necropsy on any returned mountain lion carcass and report the findings to the commission. The commission shall compile the reported findings and prepare an annual written report that shall be submitted to the Legislature not later than the January 15 next following the year in which the mountain lion was taken.