CA SB 839
enactedOil spills: fishing: water closure: grants: liability.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
Quick answers
Did CA SB 839 pass?
Yes. CA SB 839 has been enacted into law as of 2025-10-01. Latest recorded action (2025-10-01): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 237, Statutes of 2025.
What is CA SB 839 about?
(1) Existing law requires the Director of Fish and Wildlife, within 24 hours of notification of a spill or discharge, as described, to close certain waters to the take of all fish and shellfish. Existing law provides that closure is not required if the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) finds, within 24 hours of the notification, that a public health threat does not or is unlikely to exist. Existing law requires the director, in consultation with OEHHA, to make specific determinations with regard to the spill or discharge within 48 hours of the notification. Existing law requires the director, within 48 hours of notification or as soon as is feasible, in consultation with OEHHA, to assess and determine the potential danger from consuming fish contained in a recirculating seawater tank onboard a vessel. Existing law requires the director to seek full reimbursement from the responsible parties for the spill or discharge for all reasonable costs incurred by the department in carrying out these provisions. A violation of the Fish and Game Code is a crime. This bill would revise those provisions by, among other things, authorizing, instead of requiring, after a notification of a spill or discharge the director to close certain waters to the take of all fish or shellfish or to otherwise restrict the take and possession of all fish or shellfish in those waters. The bill would require closure if OEHHA finds that a public health threat exists or is likely to exist, and would require the director, in determining the need for a closure, to initiate consultation with OEHHA no later than 24 hours after a notification of a spill or discharge regarding the likelihood of a public health threat, if specified conditions are met. The bill would also authorize OEHHA to seek full reimbursement for all reasonable costs it incurs. The bill would make it unlawful to take any fish or shellfish from any waters closed pursuant to these provisions or to otherwise violate any restriction imposed pursuant to these provisions. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law authorizes the administrator for oil spill response (administrator) to offer grants to a local government, Native American tribe, or other public entity with jurisdiction over or directly adjacent to waters of the state to provide oil spill response equipment to be deployed by a certified local spill response manager, as provided. This bill would provide that a federally recognized tribe, instead of a Native American tribe, is eligible to receive those grants. Existing law requires the administrator, taking into consideration the California oil spill contingency plan, to promulgate regulations regarding the adequacy of oil spill elements of area plans adopted pursuant to specified existing law. Existing law authorizes the administrator to offer, to a unified program agency with jurisdiction over or directly adjacent to waters of the state, a grant to complete, update, or revise an oil spill element of the area plan. Existing law establishes the Environmental Enhancement Grant Program and requires grants to be awarded to nonprofit organizations, cities, counties, cities and counties, districts, state agencies, and departments. This bill would provide that a federally recognized tribe is also eligible to receive the above-described grants. (3) Existing law makes a responsible party, as defined, absolutely liable without regard to fault for any damages incurred by any injured person that arise out of, or are caused by, a spill, with specified exemptions including the discharge or leaking of oil or natural gas from a private pleasure boat or vessel. This bill would remove the discharge or leaking of oil or natural gas from a private pleasure boat or vessel from those exemptions from liability. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors CA SB 839?
Laird is the primary sponsor of CA SB 839.
Description
(1) Existing law requires the Director of Fish and Wildlife, within 24 hours of notification of a spill or discharge, as described, to close certain waters to the take of all fish and shellfish. Existing law provides that closure is not required if the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) finds, within 24 hours of the notification, that a public health threat does not or is unlikely to exist. Existing law requires the director, in consultation with OEHHA, to make specific determinations with regard to the spill or discharge within 48 hours of the notification. Existing law requires the director, within 48 hours of notification or as soon as is feasible, in consultation with OEHHA, to assess and determine the potential danger from consuming fish contained in a recirculating seawater tank onboard a vessel. Existing law requires the director to seek full reimbursement from the responsible parties for the spill or discharge for all reasonable costs incurred by the department in carrying out these provisions. A violation of the Fish and Game Code is a crime. This bill would revise those provisions by, among other things, authorizing, instead of requiring, after a notification of a spill or discharge the director to close certain waters to the take of all fish or shellfish or to otherwise restrict the take and possession of all fish or shellfish in those waters. The bill would require closure if OEHHA finds that a public health threat exists or is likely to exist, and would require the director, in determining the need for a closure, to initiate consultation with OEHHA no later than 24 hours after a notification of a spill or discharge regarding the likelihood of a public health threat, if specified conditions are met. The bill would also authorize OEHHA to seek full reimbursement for all reasonable costs it incurs. The bill would make it unlawful to take any fish or shellfish from any waters closed pursuant to these provisions or to otherwise violate any restriction imposed pursuant to these provisions. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law authorizes the administrator for oil spill response (administrator) to offer grants to a local government, Native American tribe, or other public entity with jurisdiction over or directly adjacent to waters of the state to provide oil spill response equipment to be deployed by a certified local spill response manager, as provided. This bill would provide that a federally recognized tribe, instead of a Native American tribe, is eligible to receive those grants. Existing law requires the administrator, taking into consideration the California oil spill contingency plan, to promulgate regulations regarding the adequacy of oil spill elements of area plans adopted pursuant to specified existing law. Existing law authorizes the administrator to offer, to a unified program agency with jurisdiction over or directly adjacent to waters of the state, a grant to complete, update, or revise an oil spill element of the area plan. Existing law establishes the Environmental Enhancement Grant Program and requires grants to be awarded to nonprofit organizations, cities, counties, cities and counties, districts, state agencies, and departments. This bill would provide that a federally recognized tribe is also eligible to receive the above-described grants. (3) Existing law makes a responsible party, as defined, absolutely liable without regard to fault for any damages incurred by any injured person that arise out of, or are caused by, a spill, with specified exemptions including the discharge or leaking of oil or natural gas from a private pleasure boat or vessel. This bill would remove the discharge or leaking of oil or natural gas from a private pleasure boat or vessel from those exemptions from liability. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
- Introduced
- 2025-02-21
- Latest action
- 2025-10-01 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 237, Statutes of 2025.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Lairdauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2025-02-21
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,referral-committee
2025-02-24
Read first time.
reading-1
2025-02-24
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
2025-03-12
Referred to Com. on RLS.
referral-committee
2025-03-24
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-04-02
Re-referred to Coms. on N.R. & W. and E.Q.
referral-committee
2025-04-03
Set for hearing April 8.
2025-04-08
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 708.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-11
Set for hearing April 30.
2025-05-01
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 964.) (April 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-05-02
Set for hearing May 12.
2025-05-12
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-16
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-23
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-05-23
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1214.) (May 23).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-05-28
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 32. Noes 0. Page 1280.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-05-28
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2025-06-05
Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.
referral-committee
2025-06-16
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-06-24
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-07-02
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-08-20
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-08-29
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-02
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-09-03
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-09-13
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3446.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-09-13
Joint Rule 61(a)(14) and 51(a)(4) suspended. (Ayes 59. Noes 20. Page 3413.)
2025-09-13
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2025-09-13
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 32. Noes 0. Page 3059.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-09-23
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
executive-receipt
2025-10-01
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2025-10-01
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 237, Statutes of 2025.
became-law
Versions
- 02/21/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-21Compare
- 03/24/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-03-24Compare
- 06/16/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-06-16Compare
- 09/02/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-09-02Compare
- 09/18/25 - Enrolled — 2025-09-18Compare
- 10/01/25 - Chaptered — 2025-10-01Compare
- SB839Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
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Votes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]
2025-04-08 · pass · 5-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Stern: yes
- Allen: yes
- Laird: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Limón: yes
- Seyarto: other
- Grove: other
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-30 · pass · 8-0
Member-level votes (8)
- Hurtado: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Padilla: yes
Placed on suspense file
2025-05-12 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Wahab: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Caballero: yes
Do pass
2025-05-23 · pass · 5-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Caballero: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Dahle: other
- Seyarto: other
3rd Reading
2025-05-28 · pass · 32-0
Member-level votes (40)
- McNerney: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Allen: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Laird: yes
- Becker: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Valladares: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Niello: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Stern: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Alvarado-Gil: other
- Grove: other
- Limón: other
- Cervantes: other
- Choi: other
- Seyarto: other
- Reyes: other
- Jones: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
2025-06-23 · pass · 14-0
Member-level votes (14)
- Hoover: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Haney: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Flora: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Zbur: yes
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-07-01 · pass · 11-0
Member-level votes (12)
- Connolly: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Papan: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Macedo: other
Do pass as amended.
2025-08-29 · pass · 11-0
Member-level votes (15)
- Elhawary: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Fong: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Solache: yes
- Sanchez: other
- Ta: other
- Tangipa: other
- Dixon: other
Unfinished Business SB839 Laird Concurrence
2025-09-13 · pass · 32-0
Member-level votes (40)
- McGuire: yes
- Becker: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Caballero: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Niello: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Laird: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Stern: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Strickland: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Allen: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- Limón: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Seyarto: other
- Weber Pierson: other
- Choi: other
- Valladares: other
- Jones: other
- Grove: other
- Dahle: other
- Alvarado-Gil: other
SB 839 Laird Senate Third Reading By Connolly
2025-09-13 · pass · 79-0
Member-level votes (80)
- Addis: yes
- Haney: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Carrillo: yes
- Ransom: yes
- Berman: yes
- Bauer-Kahan: yes
- Schiavo: yes
- Alvarez: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Hoover: yes
- Nguyen: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Solache: yes
- Lowenthal: yes
- Petrie-Norris: yes
- Gabriel: yes
- Zbur: yes
- DeMaio: yes
- Hadwick: yes
- Irwin: yes
- Tangipa: yes
- Patel: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Johnson: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Gipson: yes
- Hart: yes
- Calderon: yes
- Wilson: yes
- Soria: yes
- Valencia: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Papan: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Alanis: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Jackson: yes
- Davies: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Krell: yes
- Chen: yes
- Quirk-Silva: yes
- Bains: yes
- Michelle Rodriguez: yes
- Arambula: yes
- Bennett: yes
- Ávila Farías: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Lee: yes
- Wallis: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Ta: yes
- Blanca Rubio: yes
- Gallagher: yes
- Ellis: yes
- Macedo: yes
- McKinnor: yes
- Ramos: yes
- Rivas: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Dixon: yes
- Rogers: yes
- Ward: yes
- Fong: yes
- Wicks: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Pacheco: yes
- Boerner: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Harabedian: yes
- Lackey: yes
- Flora: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Castillo: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
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