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Committee hears competing testimony on AB 928, aimed at disrupting trafficking of fighting birds
Summary
AB 928 would create civil liability and greater penalties aimed at people who breed and traffic roosters for illegal cockfighting; proponents described large, commercialized yards and public‑health and cruelty risks, while hobby breeders and poultry associations warned the bill is overbroad and threatens cultural and preservation activities.
Assemblymember Rogers introduced AB 928 as the ‘‘Cockfighting Cruelty Act,’’ telling the committee it targets trafficking and the commercial supply chain that supports illegal cockfighting and violent animal cruelty. Rogers and supporting groups said current criminal penalties for cockfighting are insufficient deterrents and that California hosts large, organized trafficking operations that profit from breeding and shipping fighting birds.
Jenny Berg of Humane World for Animals and Henry Brzezinski, a retired animal‑control chief who investigated large operations, described conditions on what they called ‘‘gamefowl yards’’ — thousands of roosters tethered or caged, disease risks including avian flu, and evidence of related criminal activity. They said civil remedies aimed at the profit motive would give law enforcement tools to shut down operations and protect community health and animal welfare.
Numerous witnesses representing poultry fanciers, county fair organizers, feed dealers, 4‑H and poultry‑show communities testified in opposition or concern. They said the bill would sweep in legitimate breeders, heritage and show breeders, youth 4‑H participants, and small backyard owners; speakers said tens of thousands of show entries and rare breeds could be imperiled. Opponents raised constitutional and civil‑rights concerns, argued enforcement statistics show few prosecutions historically, and warned the measure could enable profiling of Latino communities where poultry preservation is common.
Committee discussion included author assurances that the bill exempts commercial poultry operations and bona fide hobby/exhibition breeders, and that the intent is to target large‑scale, commercialized trafficking for illegal fighting. At the point where the transcript ends, opposition testimony was ongoing and no committee vote was recorded in the excerpt.
