Today, the California Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee held a special hearing specifically to revote on Senate Bill 1221, a bill banning the hunting of black bears and bobcats using hounds. The Committee passed the bill by a vote of 8-4, with one abstention.
This “do-over” comes just one week after the bill failed to earn enough votes to pass out of the Committee. Following the defeat, anti-hunting groups lobbied Committee Chairman Jared Huffman (D-Marin) to reconsider the bill and to hold another vote, giving them another chance to pressure reluctant legislators.
“It is very discouraging that anti-hunting legislators keep changing the rules to make sure sportsmen lose their rights,” said Evan Heusinkveld, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance director of state services. “The anti’s had their shot and failed. Allowing extra time to twist arms and holding a revote during a special hearing demonstrates how much the committee vote was rigged from the start. We will not give up, however.”
Members of the Committee that voted to pass SB 1221:
Chairman Jared Huffman
Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield
Assemblywoman Nora Campos
Assemblyman Paul Fong
Assemblyman Mike Gatto
Assemblyman Ben Hueso
Assemblyman Ricardo Lara
Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada
Members of the Committee that voted against SB 1221:
Vice-Chair Linda Halderman
Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
Assemblywoman Beth Gaines
Assemblyman Brian Jones
Members of the Committee that abstained from voting:
Assemblyman Roger Hernandez
Senate Bill 1221 will next head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee in August. You can find updates as they happen on USSA’s Protect California Hound Hunting Facebook page and on USSA’s website.
Take Action! California sportsmen must call their state assembly member in opposition to Senate Bill 1221. To find your member’s contact information visit the Legislative Action Center.