Protected species: California Endangered Species Act.

Assembly Member Schultz's legislation expands California's authority to protect endangered and threatened species by establishing new prohibitions on wildlife trafficking and creating emergency listing procedures when federal protections decrease. The bill adds two key provisions to the Fish and Game Code that would remain in effect through December 2031.

The measure prohibits transporting, selling, or possessing with intent to sell any fish, wildlife, or plant taken or traded in violation of federal laws or international treaties in effect as of January 2025. Cannabis and hemp transactions permitted under state law are explicitly exempted from these restrictions. The Fish and Game Commission would be required to consider emergency listings for species that lose federal endangered species protections after January 2025, with the Department of Fish and Wildlife conducting prompt status reviews to determine whether permanent state listing is warranted. During emergency listings, the commission and department may apply federal species protections that were in place before 2025.

The department must monitor and report quarterly to the commission on federal actions that could trigger emergency listings. The bill specifies that California Environmental Quality Act review is not required for take authorizations issued under emergency listings. While the legislation expresses intent to provide sustainable implementation funding, it includes no specific appropriation. Local agencies would not receive state reimbursement for costs related to enforcing the new criminal provisions.