Why It Matters: The 2025/2026 California state legislative session officially came to a close on September 30, which was the last day Governor Gavin Newsom could sign or veto legislation. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is celebrating three pro-sportsmen’s bills that made it across the finish line the final week of September.
Highlights:
- Assembly Bill 1987 (AB 1987) authorizes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to partner with conservation groups and dedicate hunting permit revenues to managing public hunting programs.
- Assembly Bill 2207 (AB 2207) allows parents, guardians, and grandparents with valid hunting licenses to transfer hunting tags to children or grandchildren 17 and younger.
- Senate Bill 1250 (SB 1250) requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to work with CDFW to identify wildlife movement barriers and improve highway connectivity to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
During the final week of September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed three pro-sportsmen’s bills into California law that promote public hunting access, youth hunting opportunities, and wildlife connectivity.
AB 1987 was introduced by California Outdoor Sporting Caucus members Assemblymembers Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry and Heather Hadwick. The bill will authorize CDFW to enter into agreements with nonprofit conservation groups to help administer hunting and other public-use programs on department-managed lands. AB 1987 also establishes a dedicated account for revenues generated through waterfowl hunting reservation applications and daily and season-long entry permits at Type A and Type B Wildlife Areas, ensuring those funds are directed toward the operation, maintenance, and administration of public hunting programs on those areas. This law will require CDFW to submit a report to the legislature by October 1, 2033, detailing expenditures and revenues associated with these department-managed lands.
Current California law prohibits the transfer of a hunting tag issued by CDFW. AB 2207, sponsored by Outdoor Sporting Caucus member Heather Hadwick, requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a hunting tag transfer program, allowing a person to transfer a tag to their child or grandchild. The transferor would need to be the parent, legal guardian, or grandparent, and the recipient would need to be 17 years old or younger. The transferor would also need to possess a valid hunting license. CDFW will collect a fee to cover the cost of transferring the tag, with the revenue deposited into the Big Game Management Account. This law will sunset on January 1, 2033. The long-term success of conservation depends on engaging the next generation of sportsmen and women. CSF is excited that hunting opportunities for California’s youth have been expanded with the passage of this bill.
SB 1250, sponsored by Outdoor Sporting Caucus Co-Chair Senator Dave Cortese, requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to consult with CDFW to determine potential barriers to wildlife movement and connectivity needs on state highways. It also requires Caltrans to prepare a list of wildlife connectivity improvements across California’s state highway system and include wildlife connectivity in their State Highway System Management Plan (SHSMP). CSF is excited that SB 1250 was signed into law and supports legislation that improves coordination between transportation agencies and game and fish agencies, supports wildlife movement, and helps reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
CSF is pleased to see these key sportsmen’s bills addressing wildlife connectivity, youth engagement, and wildlife area management signed into law and is grateful for the work of the California Outdoor Sporting Caucus during this legislative session.