California Assembly Bill AB1169

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/21/25
• Refer: 3/10/25
• Report Pass: 4/9/25
• Refer: 4/9/25
• Refer: 4/23/25
• Report Pass: 5/23/25
• Engrossed: 6/3/25
• Refer: 6/4/25
• Refer: 6/18/25
• Report Pass: 7/16/25
• Refer: 7/17/25
• Refer: 8/18/25

Caption

An act to amend amend, repeal, and add Sections 1572 and 1573 of of, and to add and repeal Section 1573.1 of, the Fish and Game Code, relating to wildlife grants.

Impact

Should this bill pass, it is set to have significant implications for state laws regarding wildlife management and public recreational access. The adjustments to the SHARE program propose to bolster landowner participation, thereby improving public access to private lands for activities like hunting and fishing. Additionally, the bill establishes the SHARE Account within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, where funds will be explicitly allocated for promoting the program. This could potentially lead to enhanced wildlife conservation efforts and more opportunities for outdoor recreation across the state.

Summary

Assembly Bill 1169, introduced by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez, aims to enhance the Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) program within California's Fish and Game Code. This bill establishes new requirements and provisions to encourage private landowners to make their land accessible for wildlife-dependent recreational activities. The proposed amendments include increasing the maximum compensation for private landowners to $52 per acre and $87 per public participant per day, which will be adjusted annually for inflation. By mandating, rather than merely authorizing, the Department of Fish and Wildlife to enter into agreements and provide grants for these purposes, AB 1169 seeks to incentivize participation in the SHARE program more effectively.

Sentiment

The sentiment toward AB 1169 appears to be generally positive among proponents who view it as a crucial step toward ensuring greater public access to recreational opportunities while simultaneously supporting land conservation efforts. Advocates believe that incentivizing landowners will foster community involvement and appreciation for wildlife habitats. However, there could also be some contention from stakeholders concerned about the implications for land-use rights, particularly if they believe the compensation levels or requirements for participation may not adequately reflect the value of their land or could lead to regulatory burdens.

Contention

One notable point of contention revolves around how well the increased compensation rates align with market values for land and whether they might adequately incentivize landowners to join the SHARE program. Furthermore, there are ongoing discussions regarding the oversight and accountability of the funds collected in the SHARE Account to ensure that they are effectively used for the stated goals. The bill also sets a sunset date for its provisions on January 1, 2031, which invites a review process, ensuring that further evaluations can be made to assess its effectiveness.