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SB-1397 • 2026

Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research.

Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research.

Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Alvarado-Gil
Last action
2026-04-17
Official status
Set for hearing April 27.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Mountain Lion Safety Program

The bill requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to maintain a program aimed at reducing conflicts between humans and mountain lions through nonlethal methods and scientific research, with regular reporting to the Legislature.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to keep and improve its human-mountain lion conflict program.
  • Expands efforts to study ways to stop mountain lions from entering communities and getting used to humans.
  • Needs the department to do public outreach about these programs.
  • Asks for a report on the progress and results by October 1, 2031.
  • Requires the Director of Fish and Wildlife to give yearly updates to the Legislature until 2034.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • People living in areas where mountain lions are present

Terms To Know

Nonlethal procedures
Methods that do not involve killing, such as capturing or scaring away mountain lions.
Habituation
When animals get used to being around humans and lose their fear of them.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill will end on January 1, 2033.
  • It needs a special vote (4/5) from the Legislature if it wants to change Proposition 117's rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-17 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 27.

  2. 2026-04-14 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  3. 2026-04-02 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 14.

  4. 2026-03-04 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on N.R. & W.

  5. 2026-02-23 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  6. 2026-02-23 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  7. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1397, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil.
Mountain Lions: human-mountain lion conflicts program: scientific research.
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 the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or an appropriate local agency authorized by the department, to remove or take any mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety. Existing law permits the department, as the department determines is necessary to protect mountain lions or the public, to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies,
or nongovernmental organizations to implement nonlethal procedures, which are defined as procedures that may include, among other things, capturing, pursuing, or hazing mountain lions. Existing law permits the department to authorize qualified individuals, educational institutions, governmental agencies, or nongovernmental organizations to conduct scientific research involving mountain lions pursuant to a scientific collecting permit, as specified.
This bill would require the department to maintain, enhance, and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in order to protect public health and safety, including by exercising its authority to authorize nonlethal procedures. The bill would require the department to continue and expand its scientific research effort to develop and evaluate methods to deter mountain lions from entering communities and to prevent habituation to humans. In implementing these programs, the bill would require the department to engage in
specified public outreach activities. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2033.
The bill would require the department to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2031, describing these programs, the results of the programs, the number of department personnel involved in the programs, and recommendations to further improve the programs to protect human health and safety. The bill would require the Director of Fish and Wildlife, until the 2034 calendar year, to appear on an annual basis at a hearing before one of specified committees of the Legislature to provide a status update on the programs.
The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 prohibits the Legislature from changing the act, with specified exceptions, except by a
4
/
5
vote of the membership of both houses of the
Legislature and then only if consistent with, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the act.
This bill would declare that it is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, that act.

Current Bill Text

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