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 Bill Text - AB-892 Captive wild animals: direct contact: prohibition.

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 |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | Version: 01/05/26 - Amended Assembly
 04/01/25 - Amended Assembly
 02/19/25 - Introduced

 AB-892 Captive wild animals: direct contact: prohibition.(2025-2026)

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 Date Published: 01/05/2026 02:00 PM

AB892:v97#DOCUMENTBill Start

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 January 05, 2026

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 April 01, 2025

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

 Assembly Bill

No. 892

Introduced by Assembly Member Schultz

February 19, 2025

 An act to add Section 2129 to the Fish and Game Code, relating to wild animals. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 892, as amended, Schultz.
 Captive wild animals: direct contact: prohibition.

Existing law prohibits the importation, transportation, or possession of specified wild animals into this state, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit, known as a restricted species permit, issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, in cooperation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, and only if certain requirements are met. Existing law exempts specified entities from this permit requirement under certain circumstances. Existing law requires the Fish and Game Commission, in cooperation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, to adopt regulations governing, among other things, the confinement of a wild animal possessed under a restricted species permit and the possession of all other wild animals. Existing law requires those regulations to be designed to, among other things, provide for the welfare of wild animals and the safety of the public.

This bill would prohibit a person from allowing any member of the public to come into direct contact contact, as defined, with specified animals held in captivity. The bill would provide that this prohibition does not apply to direct contact between those animals
 and certain individuals or direct contact at specified facilities. A person who violates this prohibition would not be subject to criminal penalty but would be subject to certain civil penalties and any restricted species permit for the animal would be subject to immediate suspension or revocation by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. a covered animal, as defined, except as provided. The bill would provide that any person who violates this provision is subject to a specified civil penalty for each violation, and that the restricted species permit for the covered animal is subject to immediate suspension or revocation by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The bill would authorize a person whose permit is suspended or revoked to appeal the suspension or revocation to the commission by filing a written request for an appeal within 30 days of the suspension or revocation.

This bill would provide that the provisions of this bill are severable.

Digest Key

 Vote:
 MAJORITY 
 Appropriation:
 NO 
 Fiscal Committee:
 YES 
 Local Program:
 NO 

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 2129 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:

2129.

 (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Covered animal” means any live member of any of the following animals held in captivity:

(A) Bear.

(B) Elephant.

(C) Nonhuman primate.

(2) “Direct contact” means physical contact or proximity where physical contact is possible, including, but not limited to, any proximity without a permanent physical barrier designed to prevent physical contact between the public and a covered animal.

(3) “Professional production crew” means a cast or crew member of a television or motion picture production team that has obtained all permits as required by law, and includes a professional photographer, videographer, or cinematographer.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a person shall not allow any member of the public to come into direct contact with a covered animal.

(c) This section shall not apply to direct contact between a covered animal and any of the following individuals:

(1) The owner of the covered animal.

(2) The owner of the facility in which the covered animal is kept.

(3) A trained, paid, professional employee
 or contractor of the owner of the covered animal or facility, including employees who care for or handle animals at a zoo, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 2150, or an accompanying paid emplo