Governor signs Sen. Dodd’s wildlife conservation bill

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SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that will help ensure the conservation of wildlife habitats in California through public-private partnerships with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“Collaboration is the key to maintaining sustainable hunting lands in California,” said Sen. Dodd, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Outdoor Sporting Caucus. “Many in the outdoor sporting community are the most conservation-minded because they want to pass on to future generations the opportunities they have had. Thanks to Gov. Newsom for signing this new law, which will help ensure the continued conservation of these wild habitats.”

In 2010, the Legislature established the Big Game Management Account, funded by hunting license fees, to pay for research and habitat restoration to benefit big-game species. Senate Bill 370 clarifies the law to allow public and private entities, including nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes, to continue their valuable habitat work.

Doing so is critical to achieving program objectives including contracting for aerial surveys and captures of wild sheep, as well as important research at institutions like UC Davis and Humboldt State University.

SB 370 is sponsored by the California Deer Association and the California chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation and is supported by more than a dozen outdoor sporting organizations. It was approved with overwhelming support of both the Assembly and Senate before being sent to the governor’s desk for a signature.

Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.