This law states that you cannot take or capture marine mammals, like whales, dolphins, and sea otters, unless it's allowed by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 or other specific federal regulations. If the federal government ever allows the state to handle these regulations, the state can then create its own rules about marine mammals.

This law is about protecting sea otters from pollution linked to cat litter. The California Legislature highlights that cat feces can harm sea otters due to a pathogen, T-gondii. To help improve water quality, the law mandates that any cat litter sold in the state must have a label advising people not to flush cat litter or dispose of it outdoors. Instead, people should use indoor litter boxes or throw cat feces in the trash.

The California Orca Protection Act makes it illegal to hold orcas, also known as killer whales, in captivity for display, performance, or entertainment, with some exceptions. Orcas already in captivity by January 1, 2017, can remain for current purposes and be used for educational presentations from June 1, 2017. The law also prohibits breeding or artificially inseminating captive orcas and moving or selling orcas to other locations unless federally authorized or transferred to a facility meeting certain animal welfare standards. Violators face misdemeanor charges and fines up to $100,000. Exceptions exist for educational or scientific institutions rehabilitating or researching orcas, although they must notify the department upon obtaining or rescuing an orca and aim to return it to the wild when feasible. Educational presentations must be informative and science-based.