Gov. Newsom Signs Legislation to Help Fund Sea Otter Conservation

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 575, which re-establishes the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, providing state taxpayers the opportunity to directly support the conservation of this beloved creature. Authored by state Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) to bring back this critical funding source to protect and recover sea otters, Defenders of Wildlife was the sole sponsor to the bill.

First added to the state tax return form in 2006, the fund fell short of its annual minimum total in 2024 and was inactivated. The California Sea Otter Fund allocates donations equally between the state Coastal Conservancy and Department of Fish and Wildlife and has collected over $5 million since its creation.

Defenders of Wildlife's California program director Pamela Flick issued the following statement:

"It's a happy day to have the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund back! We are thrilled to know that this critical conservation funding source for this iconic keystone species will continue well into the future. We are so grateful for Sen. Laird's leadership and Gov. Newsom's support of this legislation, as well as for the generous taxpayers who donate to make a meaningful difference on the path to sea otter recovery."

For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America's wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.

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