On Native American Day, Governor Gavin Newsom announced he has signed bills advancing tribal priorities, including making Native American Day a paid state holiday, formalizing an official apology on behalf of the state, and making permanent the Governor's Office of Tribal Affairs.
"Today's legislation reflects the many facets of the relationship between California and Native American tribes: great remorse over the violent beginnings of this state, a strong commitment to forging a better path forward together, and great pride and respect for all that the Native community has done and will do," Newsom said.
The Governor signed AB 1841 by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) to establish Native American Day as an official state holiday, recognizing the profound role Native communities have played in shaping the state's culture and identity.
"This package of bills signed today by the Governor highlights several tribal priorities. I thank Governor Newsom and the First Partner for their support in uplifting tribal voices and continuing to advance these important issues," Ramos said. "AB 1841 recognizes the profound role Native communities have played in shaping the state's culture and identity by setting the foundation for a paid state holiday."
With AB 2115, the Rowena Mae Ramos Act, the California Legislature and the courts issue an apology to California Native Americans and, as the State of California, recognize and accept responsibility for all of the harms and atrocities committed by its public officials, those who promoted, permitted, facilitated, and enforced policies of violence against Native people. It builds on Newsom's formal apology in 2019 for the state's role in historic atrocities.
Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen's (D-Elk Grove) AB 2507 puts critical components of the tribal-state framework into statute, making the Governor's Office of Tribal Affairs established in 2022 permanent, establishing a Tribal Advisory Committee, clarifying the role of tribal liaisons across state agencies, and creating clearer standards for tribal consultation statewide.
"On California Native American Day, I'm grateful to Governor Newsom for recognizing the importance of strengthening California's relationship with Tribal governments," Nguyen said. "AB 2507 is about making sure Tribal governments are brought into the conversation early and that engagement is more consistent across state government."
Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari said: "Over the last eight years, we have worked with tribal nations to improve tribal-state relationships — listening, learning, and iterating to create a new paradigm built on a foundation of mutual understanding and respect. Today's legislation memorializes much of that work and ensures that our successors will continue to advance commonsense tribal-state initiatives from a place of truth, healing, and accountability."
Other bills signed advance tribal priorities, including strengthening protections for children in conservatorship or guardianship proceedings, addressing public safety gaps on tribal lands, and supporting Native higher education institutions.
The legislation builds on seven years of administration efforts, including the return of over 100,000 acres of land to California Native American tribes and the release of the Native American Studies Model Curriculum. This fall, the California Truth and Healing Council will release a report with recommendations based on its findings.