State Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) introduced a bill on Wednesday to bolster penalties for cockfighting, a crime that not only harms roosters but poses a public health risk by spreading bird flu.
Cockfighting, a blood sport in which two roosters fight to the death, is illegal in all 50 states. Cockfighting is a misdemeanor in California, and the Bay Area has recently seen several busts of cockfighting rings and breeding farms.
In 2022, a man in Ceres in Stanislaus County was sentenced to 16 months in prison for operating a cockfighting breeding farm, where federal agents discovered nearly 3,000 game fowl bred for the purpose of fighting. Last year, a man in Monterey County was suspected of possessing 350 roosters raised for cockfighting.
Holding people accountable for possessing birds used for cockfighting can be challenging since law enforcement must prove intent.
Rogers’ Cockfighting Cruelty Act is a bill that aims to give law enforcement more tools to address cockfighting.
It would prohibit possessing more than three roosters per acre, or 25 roosters on one property. It exempts commercial poultry operations, poultry hobbyists, schools, animal agencies, and projects from FFA and 4-H.
A person possessing more than 25 roosters on one property or more than three roosters per acre would have to prove that the birds are not being used for cockfighting.
For each rooster over the limit, the owner would face civil penalties of up to $2,500.
“AB 928 builds on California’s legacy of protecting animals from cruel and inhumane treatment by allowing law enforcement to address cockfighting in the community before it becomes a major criminal operation,” Rogers said in the news release.
A similar bill was introduced by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) in early 2024. However it never moved forward after Hart canceled a committee hearing for the bill.
Greater risk of avian flu
The move to introduce legislation intended to crack down on cockfighting also comes amid a national bird flu outbreak that has decimated farms. According to the Center for Disease Control, 38 of the 70 humans in the U.S infected with bird flu since early 2024 came from California.
Gamefowl can pose a greater risk for contracting and spreading bird flu since they are often exposed to bloody birds and are transported across state lines without oversight, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
“Not only is cockfighting malicious, it also poses a significant risk for the spread of avian diseases,” said Ann Chynoweth, Senior Director of the Animal Cruelty Campaign for The Humane Society of the United States, in the release. “With the rising cost of eggs being a persistent issue for California consumers, this legislation will help protect against the driver behind those price increase — avian flu.”
If approved, the bill would go into effect in January 2027.