AB-1722 • 2026

California Endangered Species Act: take prohibition: self-defense.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Hadwick
Last action: 2026-06-10
Official status: Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

California Endangered Species Act: take prohibition: self-defense.

AB 1722, as amended, Hadwick.

What This Bill Does

AB 1722, as amended, Hadwick.
California Endangered Species Act: take prohibition: self-defense.
The California Endangered Species Act requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a list of endangered species and a list of threatened species and to add or remove species from either list if it finds, upon the receipt of sufficient scientific information, as specified, that the action is warranted.
The act prohibits the taking of an endangered or threatened species, except under certain circumstances.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-06-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD.
2026-06-01 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 0.)
2026-05-07 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 6).
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-20 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 14).
2026-04-07 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on W., P., & W. and JUD.
2026-02-06 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 8.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1722, as amended, Hadwick.
California Endangered Species Act: take prohibition: self-defense.
The California Endangered Species Act requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a list of endangered species and a list of threatened species and to add or remove species from either list if it finds, upon the receipt of sufficient scientific information, as specified, that the action is warranted. The act prohibits the taking of an endangered or threatened species, except under certain circumstances.
The violation of the act is a crime.
This bill would prohibit the imposition of a civil, administrative, or criminal penalty for a violation of the take prohibition if the defendant
committed the act based on a good faith belief that they were acting
used necessary and reasonable force
to protect themselves, a member of their family, or any other individual from
immediate
bodily harm from an animal listed pursuant to the act.
The bill would require a person who committed a take, or an attempted take, of a species listed pursuant to the act under these circumstances to notify the Department of Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours after the take. Because a violation of this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures
for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

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