California Waterfowl's advocacy team works actively with lawmakers from both parties to promote legislation beneficial to wetlands and hunting. We also fight detrimental bills, either opposing them outright or, when they're certain to pass, working to minimize detrimental impacts.
While CWA is focused on waterfowl, we often take positions on legislation affecting other species or forms of hunting because we know our members have diverse conservation and hunting interests. We also lobby on firearm legislation that could negatively affect law-abiding hunters.
If you sign up for our action alerts, we'll let you know when it's time to contact your representatives in Sacramento or Washington, D.C., and we'll make it easy for you to contact them by email through our Voter Voice system.
STATE LEGISLATION
There are dozens of bills that CWA is currently monitoring. Below are the ones that we have thus far taken a position on and are actively lobbying:
SUPPORT
AB 717 – Would create a more straightforward process for obtaining a water right registration for water storage projects that primarily benefit fish and wildlife. Read the full letter here.
AB 764 – CWA-sponsored bill to allow for the take of mute swans by landowners and anyone with a valid hunting license. Bill Text - AB-764 Birds and mammals: nongame birds. Read the full letter here.
AB 1169 – CWA-sponsored bill to expand the number of hunting and fishing opportunities under DFW’s SHARE Program Bill Text - AB-1169 Wildlife grants: Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement program. Read the full letter here.
AB 1520 – Would make changes to the State Duck Stamp Program to make it more efficient and effective. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1520 Read the full letter here.
AB 929 – Bill will be amended to provide a limited exemption for managed wetlands from the pumping and fee requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Read the full letter here.
AB 1038 – Would allow houndsmen to pursue bears with dogs. Bill Text - AB-1038 Bears: hunting: use of dogs. Read the full letter here.
SB 818 – Would create a pilot program in El Dorado County to allow houndsmen to pursue mountain lions with dogs. Bill Text - SB-818 Mountain Lions: pilot program: permitted houndspersons. Read the full letter here.
SB 427 – Would make the Habitat Conservation Fund permanent. HCF provides some funding for State Wildlife Areas. Bill Text - SB-427 Habitat Conservation Fund. Read the full letter here.
SB 462 – Would establish the State Farmland Conservancy Program, including providing funding for conservation easements that provide wildlife benefit. Bill Text - SB-462 California Farmland Conservancy Program: conservation easements: funding.
OPPOSE
AB 1316 – Would require DFW to include with the sale of hunting licenses certain information related to gun laws and safety. Potentially significant costs to DFW to implement. Bill Text - AB-1316 Hunting licenses: information on firearms. Read the full letter here.
SB 15 - Firearms Dealer Requirements – Would create additional bookkeeping requirements and costs on firearms dealers (FFLs). Bill Text - SB-15 Firearms.
AB 1187 - Firearms Safety Certificates – Would require new California residents to obtain a firearm safety certificate (FSC) within 60 days of bringing a firearm into the state and require an 8 hour course as part of the FSC completion. Bill Text - AB-1187 Firearms: safety certificates.
2025-2026 State Budget proposal to eliminate 163 vacant positions at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Read the full letter here.
Federal LEGISLATION
SUPPORT
HR 9902 – Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act to provide incentives for famers to flood their fields for waterfowl conservation purposes. Text - H.R.9902 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
2025 Farm Bill/Funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program and Conservation Reserve Program
Bill to be introduced to provide $1.5 million per year for nesting habitat and brood water purposes in California.
Opposition to Large-Scale Transfers or Sales of Public Land
The California Waterfowl Association has joined a coalition of hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations in reaffirming our commitment to thoughtful stewardship of America’s public lands. Read the full letter here.
Funding for Migratory Bird Program
Request to fully fund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Program, which helps gather the science and monitoring needed to justify waterfowl seasons and bag limit frameworks. Read the full letter here.
