SB 1232: Mountain lions.

California · Senate · 2025–2026 Regular Session · last verified March 5, 2026

What SB 1232 does, verified March 5, 2026

<p>This bill aims to amend the law regarding mountain lions in California. The existing law classifies mountain lions as a specially protected mammal, making it unlawful to harm, possess, or sell them. The law also allows for the authorized taking of mountain lions when they are attacking livestock or domestic animals. The proposed bill would make a nonsubstantive change to this authorization, allowing for the same circumstances under which mountain lions can be taken to remain unchanged.</p>

Bill journey

1IntroducedCurrent

2In CommitteePending

3First Chamber FloorPending

4Second ChamberPending

5GovernorPending

6ChapteredPending

Last action: Referred to Com. on RLS. (2026-03-04)Alert me

Author and sponsors

Sen. Marie Alvarado-GilAuthor · California State Senate

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Recent actions3 total · showing 3

Mar. 04, 2026	Referred to Com. on RLS.
Feb. 20, 2026	From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
Feb. 19, 2026	Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 19, 2026 · 387 words

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1232

Introduced by Senator Alvarado-Gil

February 19, 2026

An act to amend Section 4807 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to mountain lions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1232, as introduced, Alvarado-Gil. Mountain lions.

Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the June 5, 1990, statewide primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act classifies the mountain lion as a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state, and makes it unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof. The act authorizes the take of mountain lions under limited circumstances, including by authorizing any mountain lion that is encountered while in the act of pursuing, inflicting injury to, or killing livestock, or domestic animals, to be taken immediately by the owner of the property or the owner’s employee or agent.

This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that take authorization.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 4807 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

4807.

(a) Any mountain lion that is encountered while in the act of pursuing, inflicting injury to, or killing livestock, or domestic animals, may be taken immediately by the owner of the property or the owner’s employee or agent. The taking shall be reported within 72 hours to the department. The department shall investigate the depredation, and, if the mountain lion was captured, injured, or killed, the mountain lion or the entire carcass of the mountain lion ~~which~~ that has been recovered shall be turned over to the department. Upon satisfactorily completing the investigation and receiving the mountain lion or the carcass, if recovered, the department shall issue a permit confirming that the requirements of this section have been met with respect to the particular mountain lion taken under these circumstances.

(b) The department shall undertake a complete necropsy on any returned mountain lion carcass and report the findings to the commission. The commission shall compile the reported findings and prepare an annual written report that shall be submitted to the Legislature not later than the January 15 next following the year in which the mountain lion was taken.

Text of SB 1232 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions