AB 1673: County fish and wildlife propagation fund: wildlife coexistence: tear gas.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2026-06-11
Current Status:
In Progress
(2026-06-18: In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
What does this bill do?
This bill allows people authorized by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to apply aversive conditioning to wolves to buy, possess, or use tear-gas weapons that fire projectiles if a county sheriff or city police chief approves. It also lets counties use their fish and wildlife propagation funds for wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human–wildlife conflicts, including education, outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Existing law allows a person to purchase, possess, or use tear gas or a tear gas weapon for the projection or release or tear gas if the tear gas or tear gas weapon is used solely for self-defense purposes, subject to specified requirements. Under existing law, anyone who uses tear gas or a tear gas weapon except in self-defense is guilty of a crime.
This bill would allow a person, who is authorized by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to apply aversive conditioning on wolves, to purchase, possess, or use any tear gas weapon that expels a projectile upon authorization from the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county.
Existing law requires certain fines and penalties paid to and retained in a county treasury to be deposited in a county fish and wildlife propagation fund and expended for the protection, conservation, propagation, and preservation of fish and wildlife, as specified. Existing law authorizes expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for purposes relating to fish and wildlife, including, among other things, costs incurred by a district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions relating to fish and wildlife.
This bill would additionally authorize expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for costs relating to wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Existing law requires certain fines and penalties paid to and retained in a county treasury to be deposited in a county fish and wildlife propagation fund and expended for the protection, conservation, propagation, and preservation of fish and wildlife, as specified. Existing law authorizes expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for purposes relating to fish and wildlife, including, among other things, costs incurred by a district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions relating to fish and wildlife.
This bill would additionally authorize expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation relating to fish and wildlife and for relating to wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Existing law requires certain fines and penalties paid to and retained in a county treasury to be deposited in a county fish and wildlife propagation fund and expended for the protection, conservation, propagation, and preservation of fish and wildlife, as specified. Existing law authorizes expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for purposes relating to fish and wildlife wildlife, including, among other things, costs incurred by a district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions relating to fish and wildlife.
This bill would additionally authorize expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation relating to fish and wildlife, by a county for land use planning, design, and construction necessary to mitigate a specific environmental impact to a particular fish or wildlife species, wildlife and for wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Existing law requires certain fines and penalties paid to and retained in a county treasury to be deposited in a county fish and wildlife propagation fund and expended for the protection, conservation, propagation, and preservation of fish and wildlife, as specified. Existing law authorizes expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for purposes relating to fish and wildlife including, among other things, costs incurred by a district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions relating to fish and wildlife.
This bill would additionally authorize expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund for costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation relating to fish and wildlife, by a county for land use planning, design, and construction necessary to mitigate a specific environmental impact to a particular fish or wildlife species, and for wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Existing law provides that whenever the Fish and Game Code allows or prohibits an act between certain dates or from one date to another, the period of time indicated includes both dates specified, and provides that no period of time exceeds one year unless expressly provided.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to this provision.Existing law provides that whenever the Fish and Game Code allows or prohibits an act between certain dates or from one date to another, the period of time indicated includes both dates specified, and provides that no period of time exceeds one year unless expressly provided.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to this provision.
Notwithstanding Section 22810 of the Penal Code, a person who is authorized by the department to apply aversive conditioning on wolves may purchase, possess, or use any tear gas weapon that expels a projectile upon authorization from the sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.Section 13103 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:13103.Expenditures from the fish and wildlife propagation fund of any county may be made only for the following purposes:
(a)Public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation, consisting of supervised formal instruction carried out pursuant to a planned curriculum and aids to education such as literature, audio and video recordings, training models, and nature study facilities.
(b)Temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife.
(c)Temporary treatment and care of wildlife confiscated by the department as evidence.
(d)Breeding, raising, purchasing, or releasing fish or wildlife that are to be released upon approval of the department pursuant to Sections 6400 and 6401 onto land or into waters of local, state, or federal agencies or onto land or into waters open to the public.
(e)Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, including, but not limited to, construction of fish screens, weirs, and ladders; drainage or other watershed improvements; gravel and rock removal or placement; construction of irrigation and water distribution systems; earthwork and grading; fencing; planting trees and other vegetation management; and removal of barriers to the migration of fish and wildlife.
(f)Construction, maintenance, and operation of public hatchery facilities.
(g)Purchase and maintain materials, supplies, or equipment for either the departments ownership and use or the departments use in the normal performance of the departments responsibilities.
(h)Predator control actions for the benefit of fish or wildlife following certification in writing by the department that the proposed actions will significantly benefit a particular wildlife species.
(i)Scientific fish and wildlife research conducted by institutions of higher learning, qualified researchers, or governmental agencies, if approved by the department.
(j)Reasonable administrative costs, excluding the costs of audits required by Section 13104, for secretarial service, travel, and postage by the county fish and wildlife commission when authorized by the county board of supervisors. For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable cost means an amount that does not exceed 15 percent of the average amount received by the fund during the previous three-year period, or ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annually, whichever is greater, excluding any funds carried over from a previous fiscal year.
(k)Contributions to a secret witness program for the purpose of facilitating enforcement of this code and regulations adopted pursuant to this code.
(l)Costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions for violations of this code, as approved by the department.
(m)Costs incurred by a county counsel in investigating and prosecuting an action for civil penalties, injunctive relief, or civil penalties and injunctive relief pursuant to Section 5650.1 resulting from unlicensed cannabis cultivation.
(n)Wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures, as approved by the department.
(o)Other expenditures, approved by the department, for the purpose of protecting, conserving, propagating, and preserving fish and wildlife.
Expenditures from the fish and wildlife propagation fund of any county may be made only for the following purposes:
(a)Public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation, consisting of supervised formal instruction carried out pursuant to a planned curriculum and aids to education such as literature, audio and video recordings, training models, and nature study facilities.
(b)Temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife.
(c)Temporary treatment and care of wildlife confiscated by the department as evidence.
(d)Breeding, raising, purchasing, or releasing fish or wildlife that are to be released upon approval of the department pursuant to Sections 6400 and 6401 onto land or into waters of local, state, or federal agencies or onto land or into waters open to the public.
(e)Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, including, but not limited to, construction of fish screens, weirs, and ladders; drainage or other watershed improvements; gravel and rock removal or placement; construction of irrigation and water distribution systems; earthwork and grading; fencing; planting trees and other vegetation management; and removal of barriers to the migration of fish and wildlife.
(f)Construction, maintenance, and operation of public hatchery facilities.
(g)Purchase and maintain materials, supplies, or equipment for either the departments ownership and use or the departments use in the normal performance of the departments responsibilities.
(h)Predator control actions for the benefit of fish or wildlife following certification in writing by the department that the proposed actions will significantly benefit a particular wildlife species.
(i)Scientific fish and wildlife research conducted by institutions of higher learning, qualified researchers, or governmental agencies, if approved by the department.
(j)Reasonable administrative costs, excluding the costs of audits required by Section 13104, for secretarial service, travel, and postage by the county fish and wildlife commission when authorized by the county board of supervisors. For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable cost means an amount that does not exceed 15 percent of the average amount received by the fund during the previous three-year period, or ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annually, whichever is greater, excluding any funds carried over from a previous fiscal year.
(k)Contributions to a secret witness program for the purpose of facilitating enforcement of this code and regulations adopted pursuant to this code.
(l)Costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions for violations of this code, as approved by the department.
(m)Costs incurred by a county counsel in investigating and prosecuting an action for civil penalties, injunctive relief, or civil penalties and injunctive relief pursuant to Section 5650.1 resulting from unlicensed cannabis cultivation.
(n)Costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation of this code. (o)(n)Wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures. measures, as approved by the department.
(p)(o)Other expenditures, approved by the department, for the purpose of protecting, conserving, propagating, and preserving fish and wildlife.
Expenditures from the fish and wildlife propagation fund of any county may be made only for the following purposes:
(a)Public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation, consisting of supervised formal instruction carried out pursuant to a planned curriculum and aids to education such as literature, audio and video recordings, training models, and nature study facilities.
(b)Temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife.
(c)Temporary treatment and care of wildlife confiscated by the department as evidence.
(d)Breeding, raising, purchasing, or releasing fish or wildlife that are to be released upon approval of the department pursuant to Sections 6400 and 6401 onto land or into waters of local, state, or federal agencies or onto land or into waters open to the public.
(e)Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, including, but not limited to, construction of fish screens, weirs, and ladders; drainage or other watershed improvements; gravel and rock removal or placement; construction of irrigation and water distribution systems; earthwork and grading; fencing; planting trees and other vegetation management; and removal of barriers to the migration of fish and wildlife.
(f)Construction, maintenance, and operation of public hatchery facilities.
(g)Purchase and maintain materials, supplies, or equipment for either the departments ownership and use or the departments use in the normal performance of the departments responsibilities.
(h)Predator control actions for the benefit of fish or wildlife following certification in writing by the department that the proposed actions will significantly benefit a particular wildlife species.
(i)Scientific fish and wildlife research conducted by institutions of higher learning, qualified researchers, or governmental agencies, if approved by the department.
(j)Reasonable administrative costs, excluding the costs of audits required by Section 13104, for secretarial service, travel, and postage by the county fish and wildlife commission when authorized by the county board of supervisors. For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable cost means an amount that does not exceed 15 percent of the average amount received by the fund during the previous three-year period, or ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annually, whichever is greater, excluding any funds carried over from a previous fiscal year.
(k)Contributions to a secret witness program for the purpose of facilitating enforcement of this code and regulations adopted pursuant to this code.
(l)Costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions for violations of this code, as approved by the department.
(m)Costs incurred by a county counsel in investigating and prosecuting an action for civil penalties, injunctive relief, or civil penalties and injunctive relief pursuant to Section 5650.1 resulting from unlicensed cannabis cultivation.
(n)Costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation of this code.
(o)Costs incurred by a county for land use planning, design, and construction necessary to mitigate a specific environmental impact to a particular fish or wildlife species. (p)(o)Wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures.
(q)(p)Other expenditures, approved by the department, for the purpose of protecting, conserving, propagating, and preserving fish and wildlife.
Expenditures from the fish and wildlife propagation fund of any county may be made only for the following purposes:
(a)Public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation, consisting of supervised formal instruction carried out pursuant to a planned curriculum and aids to education such as literature, audio and video recordings, training models, and nature study facilities.
(b)Temporary emergency treatment and care of injured or orphaned wildlife.
(c)Temporary treatment and care of wildlife confiscated by the department as evidence.
(d)Breeding, raising, purchasing, or releasing fish or wildlife that are to be released upon approval of the department pursuant to Sections 6400 and 6401 onto land or into waters of local, state, or federal agencies or onto land or into waters open to the public.
(e)Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, including, but not limited to, construction of fish screens, weirs, and ladders; drainage or other watershed improvements; gravel and rock removal or placement; construction of irrigation and water distribution systems; earthwork and grading; fencing; planting trees and other vegetation management; and removal of barriers to the migration of fish and wildlife.
(f)Construction, maintenance, and operation of public hatchery facilities.
(g)Purchase and maintain materials, supplies, or equipment for either the departments ownership and use or the departments use in the normal performance of the departments responsibilities.
(h)Predator control actions for the benefit of fish or wildlife following certification in writing by the department that the proposed actions will significantly benefit a particular wildlife species.
(i)Scientific fish and wildlife research conducted by institutions of higher learning, qualified researchers, or governmental agencies, if approved by the department.
(j)Reasonable administrative costs, excluding the costs of audits required by Section 13104, for secretarial service, travel, and postage by the county fish and wildlife commission when authorized by the county board of supervisors. For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable cost means an amount that does not exceed 15 percent of the average amount received by the fund during the previous three-year period, or ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annually, whichever is greater, excluding any funds carried over from a previous fiscal year.
(k)Contributions to a secret witness program for the purpose of facilitating enforcement of this code and regulations adopted pursuant to this code.
(l)Costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions for violations of this code, as approved by the department.
(m)Costs incurred by a county counsel in investigating and prosecuting an action for civil penalties, injunctive relief, or civil penalties and injunctive relief pursuant to Section 5650.1 resulting from unlicensed cannabis cultivation.
(n)Costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation of this code.
(o)Costs incurred by a county for land use planning, design, and construction necessary to mitigate a specific environmental impact to a particular fish or wildlife species.
(p)Wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures.
(n)(q)Other expenditures, approved by the department, for the purpose of protecting, conserving, propagating, and preserving fish and wildlife.
SECTION 1.Section 11 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:11.Whenever this code allows or prohibits an act between certain dates or from one date to another, the period of time indicated includes both dates specified. The first date specified designates the first day of the period, and the second day specified designates the last day of the period. No period of time specified in this code exceeds one year unless otherwise expressly provided.Whenever in this code the doing of this code allows or prohibits an act between certain dates or from one date to another is allowed or prohibited, another, the period of time thereby indicated includes both dates specified. The first date specified designates the first day of the period, and the second day specified designates the last day of the period. No period of time specified in this code exceeds one year unless otherwise expressly provided.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Jun 15, 2026 | Re-referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and PUB. S. |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Withdrawn from committee. |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Jun 11, 2026 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W. |
| May 6, 2026 | Referred to Com. on N.R. & W. |
| Apr 23, 2026 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Apr 23, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.) |
| Apr 23, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4789.) |
| Apr 13, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Apr 9, 2026 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| Apr 8, 2026 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 8). |
| Mar 24, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Mar 4, 2026 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended. |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Referred to Com. on W., P., & W. |
| Feb 23, 2026 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W., P., & W. Read second time and amended. |
| Feb 3, 2026 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 5. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | Read first time. To print. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Apr 23, 2026 | AB 1673 Hadwick Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
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| Apr 8, 2026 | Do pass as amended. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
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| Mar 24, 2026 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| california rifle & pistol association | ** Support |
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 1673
Author:(Hadwick)
As Amended Ver:April 9, 2026
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Allows a county to use moneys in its fish and wildlife propagation fund (Fund) to be used for wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures, as approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
Major Provisions
COMMENTS
The Fish and Game Code (FGC) requires that all fines and forfeitures from violations of the FGC be split equally between CDFW and the county in which the violation occurred. At least once a month that money is split between the state Fish and Game Preservation Fund (i.e., to CDFW) and the county's Fund. Expenditures from the county Fund must be used for the purposes outlined in FGC Section 13103—any other uses are prohibited. CDFW has the authority to audit or require the county to audit expenditures from its Fund. Evidence of noncompliant expenditure could result in CDFW freezing the county's Fund or requiring the county to reimburse the Fund.
Existing law limits the eligible expenditures of Fund dollars. Each new eligible expenditure increases the flexibility of the money, but also dilutes the likelihood that the money will be spent on the existing purposes. This bill proposes a new category of expenditure from a county's Fund, for wildlife coexistence programs. The efforts to prevent human-wildlife conflict proposed in this bill (education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures) are in line with other allowed uses of the Fund.
According to the Author
"This bill ensures counties can reinvest enforcement revenue into protecting their natural resources and their rural communities that depend on them."
Arguments in Support
The California Rifle & Pistol Association writes that "allowing funds for mitigation of specific environmental impacts and human-wildlife conflict prevention programs aligns with practical, science-based wildlife management. These measures can reduce conflicts in areas where hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation intersect with residential or agricultural development, benefiting both wildlife and the public."
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, CDFW reports that this bill has minor and absorbable costs.
VOTES
ASM WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE: 12-0-1
YES: Papan, Jeff Gonzalez, Alanis, Alvarez, Bains, Bennett, Boerner, Caloza, Gallagher, Hart, Ward, Rogers
ABS, ABST OR NV: Ávila Farías
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1
YES: Wicks, Hoover, Arambula, Caloza, Dixon, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Muratsuchi, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa
ABS, ABST OR NV: Calderon
UPDATED
VERSION: April 9, 2026
CONSULTANT: Stephanie Mitchell / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0002352
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 1673
Author:(Hadwick)
As Amended Ver:April 9, 2026
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Allows a county to use moneys in its fish and wildlife propagation fund (Fund) to be used for wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures, as approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
Major Provisions
Click here to enter text.
COMMENTS
The Fish and Game Code (FGC) requires that all fines and forfeitures from violations of the FGC be split equally between CDFW and the county in which the violation occurred. At least once a month that money is split between the state Fish and Game Preservation Fund (i.e., to CDFW) and the county's Fund. Expenditures from the county Fund must be used for the purposes outlined in FGC § 13103—any other uses are prohibited. CDFW has the authority to audit or require the county to audit expenditures from its Fund. Evidence of noncompliant expenditure could result in CDFW freezing the county's Fund or requiring the county to reimburse the Fund.
Existing law limits the eligible expenditures of Fund dollars. Each new eligible expenditure increases the flexibility of the money, but also dilutes the likelihood that the money will be spent on the existing purposes. This bill proposes a new category of expenditure from a county's Fund, for wildlife coexistence programs. The efforts to prevent human-wildlife conflict proposed in this bill (education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures) are in line with other allowed uses of the Fund.
According to the Author
"This bill ensures counties can reinvest enforcement revenue into protecting their natural resources and their rural communities that depend on them."
Arguments in Support
The California Rifle & Pistol Association writes that "allowing funds for mitigation of specific environmental impacts and human-wildlife conflict prevention programs aligns with practical, science-based wildlife management. These measures can reduce conflicts in areas where hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation intersect with residential or agricultural development, benefiting both wildlife and the public."
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, CDFW reports that this bill has minor and absorbable costs.
VOTES
ASM WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE: 12-0-1
YES: Papan, Jeff Gonzalez, Alanis, Alvarez, Bains, Bennett, Boerner, Caloza, Gallagher, Hart, Ward, Rogers
ABS, ABST OR NV: Ávila Farías
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-0-1
YES: Wicks, Hoover, Arambula, Caloza, Dixon, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Muratsuchi, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta, Tangipa
ABS, ABST OR NV: Calderon
UPDATED
VERSION: April 9, 2026
CONSULTANT: Stephanie Mitchell / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096 FN: 0002352
Date of Hearing: April 8, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1673
Author:(Hadwick) – As Amended Ver:March 4, 2026
Policy Committee: | Water, Parks and Wildlife | Vote: | 12 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill authorizes expenditures from a county fish and wildlife propagation fund (Fund) for (1) costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation of this code, and (2) wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures.
FISCAL EFFECT:
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reports minor and absorbable costs.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose. According to the author:
County sheriffs are often the first to respond to poaching, illegal cannabis cultivation, and other violations of the [FGC], particularly in large rural counties with limited wildlife enforcement presence. Yet current law allows counties to reimburse prosecutors for these cases, while providing no mechanism to cover the enforcement work performed by sheriffs. [This bill] supports sheriffs by allowing counties to use their fish and wildlife propagation funds to reimburse sheriff’s offices for enforcement activities.
2) Background. The Fish and Game Code (FGC) requires that all fines and forfeitures from violations of the FGC be split equally between CDFW (deposited into the Fish and Game Preservation Fund) and the county in which the violation occurred (deposited into the county’s Fund). Expenditures from the county Fund may be used only for the purposes outlined in the FGC. These include, among other things, public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation, temporary treatment of wildlife, improvement of fish and wildlife habitat, and costs incurred by a district attorney, city attorney, or county counsel in investigating and prosecuting violations. As summarized above, this bill authorizes two new categories of expenditures from a county Fund.
CDFW has the authority to audit or require a county to audit expenditures from its Fund. Evidence of noncompliant expenditures could result in CDFW freezing the county’s Fund or requiring the county to reimburse the Fund. CDFW conducted an audit of the propagation fund process in 2023 and determined that counties were authorizing expenditures without the proper approval process as required by the FGC. Subsequently, CDFW provided every county with a letter detailing the proper process for approvals and plans to conduct a follow-up audit within a few years to determine if counties are adhering to the department’s guidance. The department reviews approximately 50 approval requests per year from various counties for propagation fund use.
3) Proposed Amendments. The committee and the author’s office have agreed to the following amendments:
(n) Costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation of this code.
(o) Wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures, as approved by the department.
Analysis Prepared by: Nikita Koraddi / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: March 24, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE
Diane Papan, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1673 (
Author:Hadwick) – As Amended Ver:March 4, 2026
SUBJECT: County fish and wildlife propagation fund: expenditure
SUMMARY: Allows a county to use moneys in its fish and wildlife propagation fund (Fund) to be used for two additional purposes. Specifically, this bill:
- Permits counties to expend moneys from their Fund for:
- Costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, issuing citations, or making arrests for a civil or criminal violation of the Fish and Game Code (FGC); and
- Wildlife coexistence programs to prevent human-wildlife conflict, including education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures.
EXISTING LAW:
- Requires that moneys paid to a county pursuant to #2 and #3, below, be deposited in a Fund and be expended for the protection, conservation, propagation, and preservation of fish and wildlife, under the direction of the board of supervisors. Further, requires that the expenditures from the Fund be reviewed first at a regular meeting of the county board of supervisors or its designated county fish and game commission to ensure compliance with #4 (FGC § 13100).
- Requires that one-half of the money collected from any fine or forfeiture related to the taking of abalone to be deposited in the Fund of the county in which the violation occurred (FGC § 12009).
- Unless provided by another law, requires that one-half of the fines and forfeitures imposed or collected in a court for violation of the FGC be deposited in the Fund of the county in which the violation occurred (FGC § 13003).
- Limits the expenditures from a counties Fund for only certain purposes, including:
- Public education relating to the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation;
- Improvement of fish and wildlife habitat;
- Construction, maintenance, and operation of public hatchery facilities;
- Costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal actions for violations of this code, as approved by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW); and
- Costs incurred by a county counsel in investigating and prosecuting an action for civil penalties, injunctive relief, or civil penalties and injunctive relief resulting from unlicensed cannabis cultivation (FGC § 13103).
- Allows CDFW to audit, or require the county to audit, expenditures from the county’s Fund, to determine compliance with #4. If expenditures are noncompliant, CDFW may require that all expenditures be suspended or seek reimbursement of the funds (FGC § 13104).
FISCAL EFFECT: None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose of this bill. According to the author, “County sheriffs are often the first to respond to poaching, illegal cannabis cultivation, and other violations of the [FGC], particularly in large rural counties with limited wildlife enforcement presence. Yet current law allows counties to reimburse prosecutors for these cases, while providing no mechanism to cover the enforcement work performed by sheriffs.
[This bill] supports sheriffs by allowing counties to use their fish and wildlife propagation funds to reimburse sheriff’s offices for enforcement activities. This bill ensures counties can reinvest enforcement revenue into protecting their natural resources and their rural communities that depend on them.”
- Background. The FGC requires that all fines and forfeitures from violations of the FGC be split equally between CDFW and the county in which the violation occurred. At least once a month that money is split between the state Fish and Game Preservation Fund (i.e., to CDFW) and the county’s Fund. Expenditures from the county Fund must be used for the purposes outlined in FGC § 13103 (#4 under Existing Law)—any other uses are prohibited. CDFW has the authority to audit or require the county to audit expenditures from its Fund. Evidence of noncompliant expenditure could result in CDFW freezing the county’s Fund or requiring the county to reimburse the Fund.
Existing law limits the eligible expenditures of Fund dollars. Each new eligible expenditure increases the flexibility of the money, but also dilutes the likelihood that the money will be spent on the existing purposes. This bill proposes two new categories of expenditure from a county’s fund: for wildlife coexistence programs and for the costs incurred by a county sheriff for investigating, citing, or making arrests for violations of the FGC. The efforts to prevent human-wildlife conflict proposed in this bill (education, public outreach, engagement, and nonlethal measures) are in line with other allowed uses of the Fund. This bill would also permit counties to use the Fund to cover costs incurred by a sheriff, which is similar to existing allowed uses such as covering the costs incurred by district or city attorneys for investigating violations of the FGC or by a county counsel in investigating and prosecuting violations from unlicensed cannabis cultivation.
- Related legislation. AB 195 (Committee on Budget) Chapter 56, Statutes of 2022, permits the use of the Fund to cover costs incurred by a county counsel in investigating and prosecuting an action for civil penalties, injunctive relief, or civil penalties and injunctive relief resulting from unlicensed cannabis cultivation.
SB 1249 (Wolk), Chapter 597, Statutes of 2012, among other things, required that expenditures from a counties Fund be reviewed first at a regular meeting of the county board of supervisors or its designated county fish and game commission to ensure compliant expenditures. This provision was originally included in AB 2421 (Blanca Rubio) of 2022.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Stephanie Mitchell / W., P., & W. / (916) 319-2096
Discussed in Hearing
1MIN
Assembly Floor
2MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
7MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):