COHA-Sponsored Bills Continue to Advance
 
On Monday, July 6th, two separate COHA-sponsored bills passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee despite opposition from animal rights groups.  AB 1423 (Berryhill), which would increase penalties for hunter harassment, reduce commercial hunting club fees and help the Department of Fish and Game fully implement California's "public access to private lands" hunting program (SHARE Program), was approved by an 9-0 vote.  Similarly, AB 979 (Berryhill), which would keep local governments from interfering with hunting and fishing activities, also passed with unanimous bipartisan support.  Both measures will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 250 (Florez) would prohibit anyone from owning an unneutered or unspayed dog without first securing an "unaltered dog license".   The measure would negatively impact both the quality and quantity of dogs available for hunting, field trialing and related sporting purposes because of its burdensome licensing, fees and spay/neuter requirements. Of particular concern, SB 250 effectively allows a local jurisdiction to require the spaying and neutering of all dogs with no exceptions. And, while the author of the bill has repeatedly pledged to provide an exemption in the bill specifically for hunting dogs, no meaningful language has yet been included. SB 250 will next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. COHA urges concerned hunters to contact members of the Committee to voice their opposition to the bill. For more information on the bill and how to contact your Legislator, visit our website.