California Assembly Passes Historic Bill To Improve Wildlife Corridors & Protect Threatened Mountain Lions

The California Assembly recently passed the Room to Roam Act, bringing improved statewide wildlife connectivity closer to reality. Assembly Bill 1889 now awaits state Senate approval.

Authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman, A.B. 1889 is a first-of-its-kind bill that would require local governments to consider and implement measures to protect wildlife connectivity as part of their general plan. The proposed legislation encourages better planned development with wildlife-friendly fencing, lighting, and other ways to promote wildlife movement.

“We’re lucky to have protected landscapes in California but animals are suffering as their homes are sliced up by poorly planned development,” said J.P. Rose, Urban Wildlands policy director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “If cities factor in the needs of our wild neighbors when making land-use decisions, it’ll make a world of difference for struggling animals unable to roam.”

The habitat of California’s most imperiled species, including mountain lions, desert tortoises, and California red-legged frogs, has been fragmented by overdevelopment and careless development practices, jeopardizing their survival in the state. With movement so constrained, animals are unable to find food, shelter, or suitable mates, leading to harmful inbreeding.

“The Room to Roam Act ensures that essential planning at the local level works to harmonize our landscapes with community and wildlife needs,” said Mari Galloway, California director at Wildlands Network. “By considering wildlife needs at the outset, general plans align with conservation investments to promote biodiversity and climate-resilient landscapes.”

The Room to Roam Act, which is sponsored by the Center and Wildlands Network, lays out clear guidelines for cities to address wildlife connectivity in their long-range plans. The bill builds upon existing legislation that requires Caltrans to prioritize wildlife crossing structures when improving or building roads. The Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act, also sponsored by the Center and Wildlands Network, was signed into law in 2022.