By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (April 26, 2025)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Senate Bill 818, known as Taylen and Wyatt’s Law, cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on April 22, but not without controversy. Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson), the bill’s author, and the Brooks family, who inspired the legislation, have voiced strong objections to amendments they say dilute the bill’s original intent.
Originally, SB 818 aimed to establish a pilot program in El Dorado County allowing permitted houndspersons to nonlethally haze mountain lions deemed threats to public safety, livestock, or pets. The initiative, dubbed “Tree and Free,” sought to restore the animals’ natural wariness of humans and reduce dangerous encounters. The bill was introduced following a fatal mountain lion attack in El Dorado County in March 2024, which claimed the life of 21-year-old Taylen Brooks and severely injured his brother, Wyatt.LegiScan+2LegiScan+2LegiScan+2
However, recent amendments have shifted the bill’s focus, prompting concerns from its proponents. Senator Alvarado-Gil described the changes as “forced amendments” that undermine the legislation’s core objectives. The Brooks family echoed this sentiment, expressing that the revised bill no longer honors the memory of Taylen or ensures the safety of communities in mountain lion habitats.
The original bill highlighted a significant increase in mountain lion encounters in El Dorado County, noting over 200 domestic animal deaths in 2024 and sightings near schools. It argued that nonlethal hazing by trained houndspersons could effectively deter mountain lions from populated areas, referencing studies supporting proactive deterrence methods.LegiScan+1LegiScan+1
Despite the committee’s approval, the path forward for SB 818 remains uncertain. Senator Alvarado-Gil and the Brooks family are advocating for the restoration of the bill’s original provisions, emphasizing the need for measures that genuinely address public safety concerns.
As the legislative process continues, stakeholders and community members in El Dorado County and beyond watch closely, hopeful that the final version of Taylen and Wyatt’s Law will reflect its initial purpose: to protect both human lives and mountain lion populations through responsible, nonlethal management strategies.
For more information on SB 818, visit the California Legislative Information website: https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/SB818/2025.
