California Takes the Lead: AB 1319 Protects Threatened and Endangered Species

A powerful win for biodiversity and for the people who fought to give nature a voice.

By Caspar von Alvensleben, RRI Intern

Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) on California Poppy

Despite strong opposition, California has become the first state to adopt a proactive approach to protect imperiled biodiversity amid federal rollbacks. With Governor Newsom's signature on AB 1319, threatened and endangered species in California will stay protected—even if federal safeguards are weakened or eliminated.

This is more than just policy; it's a promise to the species that call California home and to the communities that depend on healthy ecosystems.

A Bill Born from Necessity

AB 1319 was authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz and sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife in response to a clear need: what happens to California's most vulnerable species when federal protections disappear? The answer, until now, was uncertain. This bill changes that.

California is home to more threatened and endangered species than any other state. From the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep to the California condor, from coho salmon to the desert tortoise, our state's biodiversity is both extraordinary and fragile. AB 1319 ensures that even if the federal government walks away from its responsibility to protect these species, California won't.

What AB 1319 Does

The bill creates a safety net. If federal protections are rolled back for a species, California's protections automatically kick in. It's a backstop that prevents vulnerable wildlife from falling through the cracks during periods of political change or national policy shifts.

This matters because federal rollbacks aren't hypothetical—they're a real threat that conservationists and wildlife advocates have been preparing for. AB 1319 gives California the tools to act independently, to lead rather than follow, and to protect biodiversity no matter what happens in Washington.

California condor (Gymnogyps californianus).

What This Means

AB 1319 is more than a policy victory. It's a statement about values. It says that California believes in science, in stewardship, and in the idea that we have a responsibility to the species we share this land with.

For California's endangered species, this bill could mean the difference between survival and extinction. For all of us, it's a reminder that progress is possible when people come together to fight for what matters.

Thank you, Governor Newsom, for signing AB 1319 into law. You led the way with 30x30, and now, with AB 1319, you're furthering California's commitment to biodiversity by protecting its most imperiled species from federal efforts to weaken protections.

Thank you, Assemblymember Nick Schultz, for authoring this critical legislation and for recognizing that California's wildlife needs champions who are willing to stand up and fight for their future.

And thank you to Defenders of Wildlife and the countless advocates, scientists, and community members who pushed for this bill, testified, organized, and refused to let this moment pass without action.

Here's to the species that will be here tomorrow because of what we did today.