Newsom Signs Bill to Save Native Species from Federal Protections Rollbacks

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into state law  Assembly Bill 1319, which was sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife and authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), which provides a new way to protect species under the California Endangered Species Act for federally listed species that may be substantially impacted by federal rollbacks.

“It’s painfully clear that the Endangered Species Act is staring down the barrel of a long gun and will be for the foreseeable future, but today, California is standing strong for its native species,” said Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife California program director. “With this move, Gov. Newsom has made a powerful statement and a lasting investment in the future of California’s beautiful landscapes and irreplaceable wildlife.”  

AB 1319 allows the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the state’s Fish and Game Commission to respond to the anticipated influx of new California Endangered Species Act listing petitions in a cost- and time-effective way.  

This new law creates a more efficient process in which CDFW can quickly protect federally listed species that could be substantially impacted by measures to weaken the ESA. These species will remain on this new “provisional” endangered species list until 2031 unless they are formally listed as state endangered or threatened through the existing listing process or they are removed from the list under the current de-listing process.  

AB 1319 also includes improvements to state wildlife trafficking laws by providing a state backstop if federal wildlife trafficking laws are weakened, providing more time for investigations and updating fines and penalties for wildlife trafficking crimes.