SB-609 • 2026

Fish: commercial fishing.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Laird
Last action: 2025-10-01
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 227, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about the timing of when these changes will take effect, nor does it specify how the exemption from using an electronic fish ticket might impact current reporting practices for those affected.

Fish: Commercial Fishing

The law makes certain fishing records confidential, except for specific details like business and license numbers. It also exempts those with marine aquaria receiver’s licenses from using an electronic fish ticket.

What This Bill Does

Makes landing receipts and records of fishing activities confidential, but allows public access to specific details such as business identification numbers, names of businesses, license numbers, fisher names, vessel registration numbers, and vessel names.
Exempts individuals with marine aquaria receiver’s licenses from the requirement to use an electronic fish ticket.

Who It Names or Affects

Commercial fishermen
Fish businesses
People with marine aquaria receiver’s licenses

Terms To Know

Confidential: Information that cannot be shared publicly without permission.
Electronic fish ticket: A digital form used to report fish sales, deliveries, and landings.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when the changes will take effect.
It is unclear how this change might affect current reporting practices for those no longer required to use an electronic fish ticket.

Bill History

2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 227, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-01 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2776.) Ordered to the Senate.
2025-08-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
2025-08-20 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).
2025-07-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-01 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-06-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on W. P., & W. and JUD.
2025-05-28 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-05-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1306.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1206.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 21.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 706.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 8.
2025-03-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-03-26 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 532.) (March 25).
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 25.
2025-03-05 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and JUD.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 609, Laird.
Fish: commercial fishing.
(1) Existing law requires the receipts, reports, or other records filed with the department pursuant to specified laws, and the information contained therein, to, except as provided, be confidential and to not be public records, as specified.
This bill would revise and recast the above-described provision to additionally require certain landing receipts and records of fishing activities to be confidential and to not be public records, except for fish business identification numbers, fish business names, commercial fishing license numbers, commercial fisher names, vessel registration identification numbers, and vessel names, as provided.
(2) Existing law requires certain persons to report all fish sales, deliveries, transfers, and landings using an electronic
fish ticket as prescribed pursuant to regulations adopted by the Fish and Game Commission, including a person engaged in specified activities who is required to have a marine aquaria receiver’s license, as provided.
This bill would instead remove from the provision above relating to reports using an electronic fish ticket, that person engaged in specified activities who is required to have a marine aquaria receiver’s license, as provided.
(3) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Current Bill Text

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