By James C. Ramos, ICT
This year has been a significant one for Indian Country in the California Legislature. As the first Native American elected to the Assembly, I’m proud to share that 2024 has brought critical legislative victories for our Native families, communities, and tribal nations.
Each year, we strive to improve our efforts, and this year’s achievements reflect our commitment to building self-reliance and creating opportunities for future generations.
The bills we’ve introduced this year focus on public safety, education, tribal sovereignty, and the well-being of Native communities.
AB 81 strengthens California’s Indian Child Welfare Act to protect Native children and families during state child welfare cases. By reinforcing ICWA, we ensure that tribal voices remain central in decisions affecting our children, safeguarding the rights of Native families.
AB 1284 promotes co-management agreements between tribes and the state, allowing tribes to take an active role in managing natural resources on their ancestral lands. This bill empowers tribal nations to work with state agencies on shared responsibility for environmental stewardship.
AB 1821 focuses on education, requiring California public schools to accurately teach the history of Native Americans, including the impact of the Spanish Mission and Gold Rush periods. For too long, the suffering endured by California’s First People has been left out of textbooks. This bill ensures that the full story is told.
AB 1863 expands the Feather Alert system, which helps law enforcement and tribal nations work together to find missing and endangered Indigenous people. This bill strengthens efforts to address the ongoing tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
AB 2108, the Luke Madrigal Act, improves protections for Native youth in foster care by requiring immediate action when children go missing. This bill ensures that Native children receive the attention and care they deserve, addressing a longstanding issue in the foster care system.
AB 2138 establishes a pilot program granting peace officer authority to tribal police officers. This is a vital step in allowing tribes to protect their own communities and enforce state laws, enhancing public safety on tribal lands.
AB 2656 ratifies the Table Mountain Compact, supporting tribal gaming and economic development while ensuring that environmental protections remain intact. This compact provides economic benefits for the Table Mountain Rancheria and the surrounding community.
AB 2695 improves transparency by requiring law enforcement agencies to disaggregate data related to incidents in Indian Country. This bill ensures accountability and better reporting for issues that impact Native communities.
AB 2711 focuses on substance abuse suspensions and ensures that data on such incidents in Indian Country is accurately reported. By doing so, it helps improve support and intervention for communities facing substance abuse challenges.
Finally, AB 3276 ratifies the Tule River Compact, which promotes tribal economic growth through gaming while respecting tribal sovereignty and environmental considerations.
These legislative efforts are critical to advancing the rights, safety, and well-being of Native communities. But we cannot stop here. We must continue to build on these successes and work toward an even brighter future for Indian Country. Each year, we must strive to do better, and together, we will.
