SACRAMENTO – Yesterday, California took one final step closer towards becoming the first state in the nation to ban the sale and manufacture of fur.
On a 27-8 vote, Assembly Bill 44, by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), passed the Senate Floor and then passed a concurrence vote in the Assembly. The bill is now on the desk of Governor Newsom, awaiting his signature.
Since first being introduced in December 2018, AB 44 has garnered strong, vocal support throughout the state and has caught the attention of media outlets throughout the nation. The bill would implement a statewide prohibition on the sale and manufacture of new fur products in California, providing for a civil penalty for each violation.
“Thanks to the painstaking work of animal welfare advocates and the conviction of my colleagues in the legislature, California has continued our legacy as a world leader on animal welfare issues,” said Assemblymember Laura Friedman. “I hope that Governor Newsom will agree that there is no place for fur in a humane and sustainable future and sign AB 44 into law.”
The bill exempts leather, cowhide, and shearling, as well as fur products used for religious purposes. The bill also has provisions that exempt taxidermy products, fur from an animal lawfully taken with a hunting license, and used fur.
“The Legislature has passed a bill that will put an end to the suffering of countless animals due to the senseless cruelty of the fur industry,” said Marc Ching, founder of Animal Hope in Legislation. “We are one step away from being the most compassionate state in America. Fur has no place in our society - and California is leading the movement.”
“The Humane Society of the United States applauds the California Legislature for passing Assembly Bill 44,” said PJ Smith, Director of Fashion Policy at HSUS. “We look forward to California becoming the first state to ban the sale of cruel fur products and solidifying its position as the most humane state in the nation.”
If signed into law, the bill will go into effect on January 1, 2023.
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Laura Friedman represents the 43rd Assembly District which encompasses the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and La Cañada Flintridge, as well as the communities of La Crescenta and Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Beachwood Canyon, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, and Silver Lake.