Senate BillIntroducedPenal
SB 1212: Endangered wildlife: kangaroos.
What SB 1212 does, verified June 1, 2026
The bill aims to exempt kangaroos from the current prohibition on importing, possessing, or selling their parts within the state. This exemption is contingent on the kangaroos being harvested in accordance with Australian law, the federal endangered species act, and applicable international conventions. The goal is to promote the conservation and sustainable management of kangaroo populations while allowing for commercial purposes under specific conditions.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: April 21 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 1. Noes 2. Page 3981.) (2026-04-23)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Apr. 23, 2026 | April 21 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 1. Noes 2. Page 3981.) |
| Apr. 10, 2026 | Set for hearing April 21. |
| Apr. 08, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on N.R. & W. |
| Mar. 25, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Mar. 04, 2026 | Referred to Com. on RLS. |
Latest bill textAmended version, March 25, 2026 · 619 words
| Amended IN Senate March 25, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1212
| Introduced by Senator Jones |
February 19, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1212, as amended, Jones. Criminal law. Endangered wildlife: kangaroos.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to import into the state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state the dead body, or a part or product thereof, of a polar bear, leopard, ocelot, tiger, cheetah, jaguar, sable antelope, wolf, zebra, whale, cobra, python, sea turtle, colobus monkey, kangaroo, vicuna, sea otter, free-roaming feral horse, dolphin or porpoise, Spanish lynx, or elephant.
This bill would exempt from that prohibition the import into the state for commercial purposes, possession with intent to sell, or sale within the state of kangaroos if they are harvested in accordance with Australian law, the federal Endangered Species Act, and applicable international conventions, as specified.
Existing law specifies that crimes and public offenses include felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 653o of the Penal Code is amended to read:653o.
(a) (1) It is unlawful to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or a part or product thereof, of a polar bear, leopard, ocelot, tiger, cheetah, jaguar, sable antelope, wolf (Canis lupus), zebra, whale, cobra, python, sea turtle, colobus monkey, kangaroo, except as provided in paragraph (2), vicuna, sea otter, free-roaming feral horse, dolphin or porpoise (Delphinidae), Spanish lynx, or elephant.(2) Kangaroos exempted under this paragraph shall be wild harvested pursuant to Australian federal, state, and territory law, the federal Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.), and applicable international conventions.
(b) (1) Commencing January 1, 2020, it is unlawful to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or a part or product thereof, of a crocodile or alligator.
(2) This subdivision does not authorize the importation or sale of any alligator or crocodilian species, or products thereof, that are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, or to allow the importation or sale of any alligator or crocodilian species, or products thereof, in violation of federal law or international treaty to which the United States is a party.
(c) Commencing January 1, 2022, it is unlawful to import into this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or any part or product thereof, of an iguana, skink, caiman, hippopotamus, or a Teju, Ring, or Nile lizard.
(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months, or both that fine and imprisonment, for each violation.
(e) The prohibitions against importation for commercial purposes, possession with intent to sell, and sale of the species listed in this section are severable. A finding of the invalidity of any one or more prohibitions shall not affect the validity of any remaining prohibitions.
Crimes and public offenses include all of the following:
(a)Felonies.
(b)Misdemeanors.
(c)Infractions.
Text of SB 1212 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions