Hadwick updates constituents on the Wildlife Coexistence Bill; urges public comment from rural Californians

According to a statement by Assemblymember Heather Hadwick, I want to give you an update on Senate Bill 1135 (Blakespear-D), otherwise known as the “Wildlife Coexistence Bill.”

SB 1135 passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee yesterday morning, with a 5-1 vote.

Thank you to everyone who shared. Personal stories, local impacts, and firsthand experiences truly make a difference and help ensure decision-makers understand the real consequences of policies like this.

Your voice matters, and it is essential that rural California is heard. Thank you for staying engaged and for continuing to fight alongside me to ensure our communities are not overlooked.

We will continue discussions with the author’s office as this bill moves forward. While the proposal aims to create a Wildlife Coexistence Program, expand compensation efforts and establish advisory structures, it still falls short where it matters most: public safety, immediate response and practical, on-the-ground solutions for communities living with the real impacts of predator expansion.

Coexistence must work for both people and wildlife. Right now, this proposal is too heavily weighted toward predators, without enough urgency or support for the families, ranchers and rural communities directly affected.

Our communities do not have the luxury of waiting through months or years of additional study and bureaucracy. With already strained local resources and impacts happening in real time, we need tangible solutions that protect livelihoods and ensure public safety now — not just long-term frameworks that delay meaningful action.

Click here to read the bill.

SB 1135 now moves to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. You can still voice your opinion on the matter by submitting a letter to the advocacy portal here: POSITION LETTER PORTAL

We still have a real opportunity to make our voices heard and push for solutions that truly reflect the needs of our communities.

Thank you for staying engaged and standing with us.