Grizzly Bear Reintroduction Bill Passes out of Senate Natural Resources and Water
Published Friday, April 10, 2026
Senate Bill 1305, authored by Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach, known as the California Grizzly Recovery Assessment Act, passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee this week and now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. As originally introduced, the bill would have established state policy to restore the grizzly bear to California and required the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop a roadmap for reintroduction.
Numerous county sheriffs raised significant public safety concerns, resulting in amendments to the bill. As amended, SB 1305 now requires the state to first conduct a study to determine whether grizzly bear reintroduction is biologically feasible and whether conditions exist for long-term coexistence and stewardship.
The amendments also require the study to include estimates of implementation costs and agency capacity needs, including relocation, monitoring, staffing and conflict mitigation, as well as an analysis of potential economic impacts to agricultural and ranching operations in and near potential reintroduction areas. California Farm Bureau is reviewing the amended bill.
Staff contact: Richard Filgas, rfilgas@cfbf.com.
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