AB 892 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Captive wild animals: direct contact: prohibition.

Summary

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, as defined, with 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.

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 19, 2025 Last action Feb 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/01/25 - Amended Assembly → 01/05/26 - Amended Assembly · 4 edits · Jan 5, 2026

MODERATE

AB 892 was significantly narrowed in scope. The list of covered animals was reduced from nine species (bear, caracal, elephant, kangaroo, nonhuman primate, otter, serval, sloth, wallaby) to just three (bear, elephant, nonhuman primate). The exemption for facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums was also removed, and a new savings clause was added clarifying that the bill does not preempt other state or local animal welfare laws.

SCOPE

The list of covered animals was reduced from nine species to three: only bear, elephant, and nonhuman primate remain. Caracal, kangaroo (and hybrids), otter, serval, sloth, and wallaby (and hybrids) were removed from the prohibition.

A new savings clause was added stating that the section is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other laws protecting animal welfare, and that it does not limit state law or prevent local governing bodies from adopting and enforcing their own animal welfare laws and regulations.

ELIGIBILITY

The exemption for direct contact at facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) was removed from the operative section, meaning AZA-accredited zoos are no longer automatically exempt from the direct contact prohibition.

TECHNICAL

The board member exemption was cleaned up to remove garbled text that had merged the board member and professional production crew exemptions into one confusing sentence. The employee exemption no longer specifically references zoo employees as defined in Section 2150(c).

02/19/25 - Introduced → 04/01/25 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Apr 1, 2025

MODERATE

The amendment to AB 892 adds a broad exemption for AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, expands the veterinary exemption to include licensed medical professionals assisting vets, creates a standalone exemption for professional film/TV production crews (removing prior conditions), and grants the Fish and Game Commission explicit authority to regulate direct contact with animals beyond those listed in the bill. These changes significantly narrow the practical reach of the public-contact prohibition.

SCOPE

A new subsection exempts all direct contact that occurs at facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This is a major carve-out that effectively removes most established zoos and aquariums from the bill's restrictions.

ELIGIBILITY

The veterinary exemption was expanded to include any licensed medical professional assisting the veterinary team under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, beyond just veterinarians, students, and registered technicians.

A new standalone exemption (c)(8) allows professional production crews to have direct contact with covered animals while acting in the course of a television or motion picture production, without the prior conditions requiring accompaniment by staff, work away from public view, or a contract with the facility owner.

The board member exemption was clarified to require the person be listed on the facility's statement of information, and trainees were added as a qualifying category.

ENFORCEMENT

A new subsection (f) explicitly states that the Fish and Game Commission may enact rules or regulations prohibiting direct contact with animals not defined as covered animals in this section, giving the commission authority to expand protections beyond the statutory list.

DEFINITION

The professional production crew definition was changed from 'has obtained permits' to 'has obtained all permits,' making the permit requirement more explicit.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

(Pending re-refer to Com. on A., E., S., & T.)

lower

Jan 6, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on W. P., & W.

lower

Jan 5, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W. P., & W. Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on W. P., & W.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on W. P., & W. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Coms. on W. P., & W. and A.,E.,S., & T.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors