SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Senate Bill 575 by Senator John Laird, restoring the California Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund and allowing taxpayers to once again support sea otter conservation and research through donations on their state income tax returns.

Originally established in 2006 through Assembly Bill 2485, jointly authored by then-Assemblymember Laird, the fund supports research, enforcement, public outreach, and recovery efforts for southern sea otters and their coastal habitats under the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Coastal Conservancy.

“Sea otters are an iconic part of California’s coast and play an important role in keeping our nearshore ecosystems healthy,” said Laird. “Californians will once again have a simple, voluntary way to support the recovery of this important species and the coastal ecosystems that depend on it.”

SB 575 is sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife.

“Defenders of Wildlife is so grateful to Senator Laird for championing SB 575, which restores a crucial funding source that allows Californians to once again support sea otters by simply checking a box on their tax forms,” said Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife’s California program director. “For nearly 20 years, generous Californians have proudly poured more than $5 million into the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, supporting critical sea otter conservation research, annual population counts and mortality investigations, as well as restoration grants and public education efforts by nongovernmental organizations. We are thrilled that the Sea Otter Fund has been restored.”

The California Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund appeared on state tax returns from 2006 to 2024 before falling short of the minimum contribution threshold required to remain on the tax form. SB 575 extends the fund through 2033, helping ensure continued support for sea otter recovery and conservation efforts. The fund must receive $250,000 in annual contributions to remain active.

Southern sea otters are a federally listed threatened species and are considered a keystone species because of the important role they play in maintaining healthy kelp forest ecosystems. Those ecosystems support marine biodiversity and contribute to the health of California’s coast.

SB 575 does not increase taxes or create any new fees. All contributions to the fund remain entirely voluntary.

SB 575 will take effect January 1, 2027, and the California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund will appear on the 2026 state income tax return.