Bill > SB765

This bill designates the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as California's official state snake, highlighting the species' unique characteristics and conservation status. The bill provides detailed background on the snake, noting that it is endemic to California and can only be found in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, with adult snakes growing up to 64 inches long. The legislation emphasizes the snake's ecological significance, explaining that it historically inhabited wetlands but now primarily resides in agricultural areas like rice fields. The bill also underscores the snake's conservation challenges, including habitat loss due to agricultural and urban development, which has eliminated over 90 percent of its historic wetlands. By listing the giant garter snake as the official state snake, the bill aims to acknowledge the species' importance to California's ecology and demonstrate the state's commitment to protecting endangered species. The legislative text specifically adds Section 422.6 to the Government Code to formally establish the giant garter snake as the state snake.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB765