AB-1382 • 2026

Ethics Over Aesthetics Act.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Castillo
Last action: 2026-01-29
Official status: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify if 'local prosecutors' includes city attorneys or only district attorneys.

Ethics Over Aesthetics Act

This act prohibits selling certain genetically modified pets in California unless the modifications improve their health or interaction with humans.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits importing, selling, or offering for sale in California transgenic pet animals that have been modified for cosmetic reasons, except if the modification benefits the animal's health or enhances its interaction with humans.
Sets a civil penalty of at least $5,000 for each violation of this prohibition.

Who It Names or Affects

People who import, sell, or offer to sell transgenic pet animals in California
Local prosecutors responsible for enforcing the rules

Terms To Know

Transgenic Pet Animal: A pet that has had its genes changed intentionally.
Intentional Genomic Alterations: Purposeful changes made to an animal's genetic makeup.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what counts as a cosmetic transgenic trait.
It is unclear how this will be enforced for online sales or cross-border transactions.
Local authorities determine the exact penalties and enforcement details.

Bill History

2026-01-29 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-01-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 3870.)
2026-01-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-01-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (January 15).
2026-01-15 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2026-01-13 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-01-08 California Legislative Information
(Pending re-refer to Com. on JUD.)
2026-01-08 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 3717.)
2026-01-06 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 47.1 invoked. (Castillo).
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and JUD.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2025-02-22 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1382, as amended, Castillo.
Animals: sale of pets: intentional genomic alterations.
Ethics Over Aesthetics Act.
Existing law generally regulates the importation of wild animals into the state and the sale of dogs, cats, and birds. Existing law requires a person seeking to bring or import a dog into the state for purposes of resale or change of ownership to obtain a health certificate for that dog, as specified. Existing law requires a breeder of dogs to disclose to a purchaser of a dog certain information, including the breed, sex, color, and identifying marks at the time of sale, a record of inoculations and worming treatments administered, and whether the dog has any known disease, illness, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects its health, as specified.
This bill would
prohibit
prohibit, except as specified,
a person from importing for profit, selling, or offering for sale in this state a
transgenic
pet
animal, as defined, that has been modified or developed by
intentional genomic alterations, as defined, unless the intentional genomic alteration is to benefit the health of the animal or to enhance the animal’s interaction with humans,
animal that possesses a cosmetic transgenic trait,
as specified. The bill would provide that each
transgenic
pet animal imported for profit, sold, or offered for sale in this state in violation of that prohibition is a separate violation and is punishable by a civil penalty of not less than $5,000. The bill would authorize the district attorney of the county in which the violation occurred,
and
or
the city attorney of the city
in which the violation occurred, to bring an action to enforce that prohibition, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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