SB 1286 California Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California State Library: study: state pinniped.

Summary

Existing law establishes the state flag and the state's emblems, including, among other things, the California Grizzly Bear as the state animal, the California gray whale as the state marine mammal, and the Pacific leatherback sea turtle as the state marine reptile. Existing law establishes the California State Library within the state government and vests control of the library to the State Librarian. Existing law authorizes the California State Library to serve as the central reference and research library for the departments of state government and maintain adequate legislative reference and research library services for the Legislature. This bill would require the California State Library to conduct a study, in consultation with the public, on the best candidate for the official state pinniped. The bill would require the California State Library, on or before January 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature with the California State Library's recommendations based on the study, as provided. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/20/26 - Introduced → 04/15/26 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Apr 15, 2026

MODERATE

The amended bill retains the designation of the California sea lion as the official state pinniped but adds a new requirement for the California State Library to conduct a public consultation study on the best candidate for the state pinniped, submit recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 2028, and self-repeal on January 1, 2032. The fiscal committee answer was changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amendment creates a fiscal impact. This effectively introduces a review process that could potentially change the designation before the sunset date.

Scope change

The bill now does two things: it designates the California sea lion as the state pinniped AND mandates a government study to evaluate whether that is the best choice, with a built-in expiration date of January 1, 2032 for the study requirement.

REQUIREMENT

The California State Library is now required to conduct a study, in consultation with the public, on the best candidate for the official state pinniped.

TIMELINE

The California State Library must submit a report with its recommendations to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2028, in compliance with Section 9795.

The new study provision self-repeals on January 1, 2032, pursuant to Section 10231.5.

FISCAL

The fiscal committee answer changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amendment creates a state fiscal impact (likely due to the cost of conducting the study).

SCOPE

The bill title changed from simply adding Section 425.4 to adding and repealing Section 425.4, reflecting the new sunset provision.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

May 14 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5.

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 14. Noes 0. Page 3866.) (April 14).

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on G.O.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced

Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors