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Assembly hearing weighs symbolic bill to name Bigfoot California’s official state cryptid; no motion
Summary
An author introduced legislation recognizing Bigfoot as California’s official state cryptid to boost North Coast tourism. One public speaker opposed on grounds the bill distracts from wildfire recovery and utility accountability. The committee took no motion and the measure was held.
Assemblymember Rogers introduced a bill to designate Bigfoot as the official state cryptid, citing the creature’s historical ties to Humboldt County and economic value to North Coast tourism.
The proposal would formally recognize the cultural and tourism role of Sasquatch — commonly called Bigfoot — and was presented by the bill’s author as a largely symbolic measure intended to celebrate local heritage and draw visitors to festival and retail activity around U.S. Highway 101.
The bill’s author, identified in the hearing as Assemblymember Rogers, described Willow Creek in Humboldt County as the site of the first purported Bigfoot sighting and said the town’s annual Bigfoot festival doubles the town’s population for the week. “For our district, the answer is Bigfoot. For us, it's a huge tourism industry up on the North Coast,” the author said.
Will Abrams, who identified himself as a representative of a coalition of wildfire survivors, testified in opposition and said the proposal was a distraction from urgent recovery and utility-accountability issues. Abrams said many wildfire survivors remain unpaid for damages and argued the Legislature should prioritize wildfire recovery and utility reforms instead of symbolic designations. “I think this bill really comes at the wrong time,” Abrams said, adding that the practice of diverting emergency messaging or other resources for nonessential matters had previously harmed communities during crises.
Committee members discussed the bill briefly. The committee chair said the hearing had been informative about the Bigfoot legend and its local importance but stated he had no position and that he did not think the measure rose “to a level” warranting prioritization over other issues. The chair recommended a “no position” for the record.
The committee did not move the bill. The chair said the bill would be taken up again when a quorum and motion could be established; for now, no formal action was taken.
The hearing record shows the bill drew limited public testimony: one witness in opposition and no registered supporting witnesses in the room. The chair closed consideration of the item without a motion and the item remains held in committee pending further action.
