New and Proposed Regulations - 2026

The California Fish and Game Commission is considering the following changes to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations. A business or a person submitting a comment to a proposed regulation or proposed amendment or repeal of a regulation has the right to request a copy of the final statement of reasons. Copies of the final statements of reasons will be available on this web page as they are prepared. Requests may also be submitted to the California Fish and Game Commission, PO Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.

Commission's anticipated rulemaking timetable (PDF)

Hunting and Trapping

Big Game - Bear Hunting

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID #Z2026-0113-07
Office of Administrative Law File ID #2026-0519-02S
Amend Sections 365, 366 and 708.12, Title 14, CCR, Re: Bear Hunting

Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations (PDF) - January 13, 2026
Initial Statement of Reasons (PDF) - October 20, 2025
Proposed Regulatory Language (PDF) - December 2025
Adoption date: April 16, 2026
Notice of Location of April 15-16, 2026 Hearing (PDF) - April 1, 2026
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: May 19, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: pending
Date filed with the Secretary of State: pending
Effective Date of Regulation: pending

Big Game - Bighorn Sheep Hunting

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID #Z2026-0113-08
Office of Administrative Law File ID #2026-0519-01S
Amend Section 362, Title 14, CCR, Re: Bighorn Sheep Hunting

Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations (PDF) - January 13, 2026
Initial Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action (PDF) - January 8, 2026
Reports/Documents Supporting Regulation Change
- 2019 Environmental Document Regarding Bighorn Sheep Hunting (PDF)
- The Conservation and Management Plan for Bighorn Sheep in California (PDF)
- North Central Deserts Bighorn Conservation Unit Plan
Proposed Regulatory Language (PDF) - January 2026
Adoption date: April 16, 2026
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: May 19, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: pending
Date filed with the Secretary of State: pending
Effective Date of Regulation: pending

Big Game - Elk Hunting

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID #Z2026-0113-10
Office of Administrative Law File ID #2026-0521-01S
Amend Sections 353, 364, 364.1, 555 and 555.1, Title 14, CCR, Re: Elk Hunting

Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations (PDF) - January 13, 2026
Initial Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action (PDF) - January 8, 2026
Reports/Documents Supporting Regulation Change
- 2018 Elk Conservation and Management Plan (PDF)
Proposed Regulatory Language
- Section 353. Methods Authorized for Taking Big Game (PDF) - January 2026
- Section 364. Elk Hunts, Seasons, and Number of Tags (PDF) - January 2026
- Section 364.1. Department Administered Shared Habitat Alliance for Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Elk Hunt (PDF) - January 2026
- Section 555. Cooperative Elk Hunting Areas (PDF) - January 2026
- Section 555.1. Conflict Zone Cooperative Elk Hunting Areas (PDF) - January 2026
Adoption date: April 16, 2026
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: May 21, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: pending
Date filed with the Secretary of State: pending
Effective Date of Regulation: pending

Big Game - Pronghorn Antelope Hunting

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID #Z2026-0113-09 and Z2026-0417-01
Office of Administrative Law File ID #n/a
Amend Section 363, Title 14, CCR, Re: Pronghorn Antelope Hunting

Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations (PDF) - January 13, 2026
Initial Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action (PDF) - January 8, 2026
Proposed Regulatory Language (PDF) - January 2026
On April 16, 2026, the Commission decided not to proceed with the proposed rulemaking
Notice of Decision Not to Proceed with Proposed Rulemaking - April 17, 2026

Waterfowl Hunting

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID #Z2026-0113-01
Office of Administrative Law File ID #2026-0521-04S
Amend Section 502, Title 14, CCR, Re: Waterfowl, Migratory; American Coot and Common Moorhen (Common Gallinule)

Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations (PDF) - January 13, 2026
Initial Statement of Reasons (PDF) - November 3, 2025
Proposed Regulatory Language (PDF) - November 3, 2025
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Document (PDF) - February 20, 2026
Adoption date: April 16, 2026
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: May 21, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: pending
Date filed with the Secretary of State: pending
Effective Date of Regulation: pending

Fishing

Recreational Take of Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling and Lingcod (Emergency Extension)

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID# N/A
Office of Administrative Law File ID# 2026-0213-05EE
Amend Sections 1.91, 27.25, 27.30, 27.35, 27.40, and 28.55 Title 14, CCR, Re: Recreational Take of Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling, and Lingcod

Notice of Proposed 90-Day Extension of Emergency Action (PDF) - February 6, 2026
Emergency Statement (PDF) - January 27, 2026
Emergency Regulatory Language for Readoption (PDF) - February 2026
Adoption date: December 11, 2025
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: February 13, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: Approved
Approved regulatory language (PDF) - effective February 19, 2026 through May 20, 2026
Date filed with Secretary of State: February 19, 2026
Effective date of regulations: February 19, 2026 through May 20, 2026

Klamath River Basin Sport Fishing

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID# Z2026-0310-03
Office of Administrative Law File ID# 2026-0515-01S
Amend Section 7.40(b)(50), Title 14, CCR, Re: Klamath River Basin sport fishing

Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations (PDF) - March 10, 2026
Initial Statement of Reasons (PDF) - November 13, 2025
Proposed Regulatory Language (PDF) - February 2026
Adoption Date: May 6, 2026
Notice of Location of May 6, 2026 Hearing (PDF) - April 22, 2026
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: May 15, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: pending

Central Valley Sport Fishing

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID #Z2026-0310-02
Office of Administrative Law File ID #TBD
Amend Sections 7.40(b)(4), (b)(43), (b)(66), and (b)(80), Title 14, CCR, Re: Central Valley Sport Fishing

Notice of Proposed Changes in Regulations (PDF) - March 10, 2026
Initial Statement of Reasons (PDF) - December 20, 2025
Proposed Regulatory Language (PDF) - February 2026
Adoption Date - May 6, 2026
Notice of Location of May 6, 2026 Hearing (PDF) - April 22, 2026

Recreational Ocean Salmon Inseason Changes

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID # N/A

Office of Administrative Law File ID # 2026-0401-01 FP

Amend Section 27.80, Title 14, CCR, Re Automatic Conformance to Federal Regulations for Recreational Ocean Salmon Fishing on and After April 1, 2026

Regulatory Language (PDF) - effective April 4, 2026
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: April 1, 2026
Date filed with Secretary of State: May 12, 2026
Effective Date: April 4, 2026

Recreational Pacific Halibut

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID # N/A

Office of Administrative Law File ID # 2026-0330-03P

Amend Section 28.20, Title 14, CCR, Re Automatic Conformance to Federal Regulations for Recreational Pacific Halibut Fishing, 2026-27 Season

Regulatory Language (PDF) - Effective March 12, 2026
Date filed with Office of Administrative Law: March 30, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: approved for printing May 5, 2026
Date filed with Secretary of State: March 30, 2026
Effective Date: March 12, 2026

Other

Bear Lake Buckwheat

Office of Administrative Law Notice ID #n/a
Office of Administrative Law File ID #2026-0504-01FP
Amend Section 670.2, Title 14, CCR, Re: Add Bear Lake buckwheat to the list of endangered species

Regulatory Language (PDF) - May 2026
Date filed with the Office of Administrative Law: May 4, 2026
Office of Administrative Law decision: Pending
Approved Regulatory Language (PDF) - Pending
Date filed with the Secretary of State: Pending
Effective Date of Regulation: Pending