California Assembly Bill AB1024

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/20/25
• Refer: 3/10/25
• Report Pass: 4/9/25
• Refer: 4/9/25
• Refer: 4/23/25
• Failed: 2/2/26

Caption

An act to add Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 1595) to Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to fish and wildlife.

Summary

AB 1024 would create the San Gabriel Valley Bear Management and Community Safety Act within the Fish and Game Code. The bill directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop, by January 1, 2027, a regional plan tailored to cities in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County to address bear-related conflicts in neighborhoods and homes. The plan must cover bear behavior in the San Gabriel Mountains, possible reasons bears are entering communities, local ordinances and procedures, best practices for reducing encounters, and a reassessment of bear classifications to guide local response. The bill also requires the department to set measurable performance goals for reducing bear encounters in the affected cities and report those goals to the Legislature by January 1, 2027. In addition, it requires the department to tag and track any bear that enters a residential neighborhood in the San Gabriel Valley using innovative technologies such as GPS collars or AI-based tracking systems, with the stated purpose of monitoring the bear after relocation. The bill includes a special-statute finding for Los Angeles County, indicating the Legislature views the San Gabriel Valley situation as unique enough to justify targeted treatment rather than a statewide rule.

Impact

AB 1024 would add a new chapter to Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code and impose new planning, reporting, and tracking duties on the Department of Fish and Wildlife. It would not broadly change statewide wildlife law, but it would create a geographically specific mandate for the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, including a public regional plan, legislative reporting requirements, and the use of tracking technology for relocated bears. The bill would affect the department, local governments in the San Gabriel Valley, and residents experiencing urban bear encounters, while also creating a limited reporting obligation that sunsets in 2031.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was received favorably in committee, with a unanimous 13-0 do-pass vote before referral to Appropriations. The bill’s framing as a community safety and wildlife management measure indicates support for a proactive response to bear encounters, especially in the affected region. No committee transcript is available here, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the vote suggests at least initial bipartisan or noncontroversial committee support.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the bill’s narrow, region-specific approach and whether a special statute is necessary for Los Angeles County rather than a statewide framework. Another possible issue is the requirement to tag and track bears using GPS or AI-based systems, which could raise concerns about feasibility, cost, animal welfare, and privacy or technology reliability. The bill also places operational expectations on the Department of Fish and Wildlife to produce a detailed plan and measurable goals on a short timeline, which may prompt questions about resources and implementation.