SB 1305CALIFORNIASession 20252026

California SB 1305 requires Department of Fish and Wildlife to study grizzly bear reintroduction

Original title: Wildlife: bears.

August 13, 2026

Wildlife Bears Conservation Environmental Policy

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The Frame

What this does

This bill establishes the formal legal process and scientific criteria that must be satisfied before the state can consider returning a grizzly bear population to California landscapes.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Fish and Wildlife

The department is tasked with developing the feasibility roadmap and conducting scientific and community engagement processes.

California Native American tribes

The bill mandates that the department must consult with these tribes as part of the reintroduction evaluation process.

What changed

Last recorded activity August 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

The Department of Fish and Wildlife must create a public roadmap by June 30, 2030, evaluating the feasibility and ecological impact of reintroducing grizzly bears to California. The bill prohibits any actual reintroduction until specific scientific, tribal consultation, and community engagement requirements are met.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

This bill establishes the formal legal process and scientific criteria that must be satisfied before the state can consider returning a grizzly bear population to California landscapes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill immediately bring grizzly bears back to California?

No. This bill only requires the state to study the feasibility of reintroduction and creates a legal roadmap that must be followed before any reintroduction could occur.

What must happen before grizzly bears can be reintroduced?

The state must complete a feasibility roadmap, determine that a self-sustaining population is using the best available science, consult with California Native American tribes, and engage with local communities.

News Coverage

Lean Left2

Center2

4 sources

Blind spot - no right-leaning coverage

California lawmakers kill grizzly bear reintroduction bill

Action News Now (KHSL/KNVN)Aug 14, 2026

Lawmakers scrap plan that could have reintroduced grizzly bears to California

NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) – LocalAug 14, 2026

They’re on our flag, but do long-gone grizzly bears belong in modern California?

KPBS Public MediaJul 23, 2026

They’re on the flag, but do long-gone grizzly bears belong in modern California?

Davis EnterpriseJul 23, 2026

Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Formalization of Reintroduction Criteria

The bill shifts the state's approach from general wildlife management to a specific, mandated evaluation process for grizzly bear reintroduction.

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Connected Entities

organizationNatural Resources Agency“Parent agency of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.”Map →

organizationDepartment of Fish and Wildlife“State agency responsible for wildlife conservation and the development of the gr”Map →

organizationFish and Game Commission“Recipient of the required roadmap document.”Map →

otherCalifornia Native American tribes“Required to be consulted as part of the reintroduction process.”Map →

organizationLegislative Analyst's Office“Recipient of the required roadmap document.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy50
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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