Press Releases

SACRAMENTO—The legislature tonight approved a bill that would make California Native American Day an official paid state holiday. 

Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe, is the first California Native American lawmaker elected in the state’s nearly 175‑year history, introduced the bill, AB 1841.  He has advocated for the establishment of California Native American Day since 1998, long before his election to the Legislature.

“I was a San Manuel tribal council member when I started working toward this goal with then‑Assemblymember Joe Baca Sr.,”

SACRAMENTO—California Senate members today approved on a bipartisan vote, a measure establishing enforceable protections for the free exercise of California Indian religious and spiritual practices on state lands. The measure, AB 1881, is authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and will return to the Assembly for concurrence in Senate amendments.

Ramos stated, “In a just world, there would be no need for this bill. Yet the State of California and the federal government have historically attempted to force assimilation on Native Americans. It’s a long litany of grievous

For Release                                                     Contact: Maria L. Lopez: 916-712-9854 (Cell)

June 9, 2025                                                    E-mail: [email protected]

SACRAMENTO—The California Legislative Native American Caucus today released the following statement regarding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) actions in California:

The California Legislative Native American Caucus, joins the legislature’s Diversity Caucuses in speaking out against the fear mongering, and inhumane attack on non-criminal immigrants such as families, children and

SACRAMENTO—Schools would be prohibited from creating any process that would discourage or prevent Native American students from displaying any tribal adornment or ceremonial regalia at graduation ceremonies under a bill approved unanimously today by the Assembly Education Committee. Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) introduced the bill, AB 1369.

“Despite existing legislation and constitutional protections to allow students to wear traditional tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies, Native American youth and their families continue to face obstacles and challenges. Graduation

SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember James C. Ramos, Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas and leaders of the legislative caucuses have called on U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to quickly and completely restore digital historical links telling the stories of heroic Native Americans who played iconic and invaluable roles in American victories eight decades ago during World War II.

Lawmaker’s bill is a follow up to AB 1703, the California Indian Education Act

SACRAMENTO—When teaching about the Spanish Mission and Gold Rush Eras, California public schools would be required to teach the true history of the impact on California Native Americans during those periods if AB 1821, is approved. Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), the first California Native American elected to the legislature, introduced the measure today.  

Ramos said, “This bill builds upon my previous legislation, the California Indian Education Act, approved in 2022. For far too long California’s

SACRAMENTO—Tribal law enforcement agencies and tribal courts are closer to gaining access to a national computer network that provides local and state law enforcement agencies with information used to investigate crimes and a message system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Motor Vehicles and other agencies after unanimous approval today of AB 44 by the Senate Public Safety Committee. Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) introduced the measure earlier this year.

Ramos said, “Passage of AB 44 is critical to assisting tribes keep their communities safe

California steps up efforts to stem violence against Native Americans as state enacts new Feather Alert system

REDWOOD VALLEY—Today tribal leaders, local law enforcement and lawmakers gathered to learn how the a new tool – the Feather Alert – will work to help law enforcement quickly notify the public about missing Native Americans and enlist their aid. The law, AB 1314, which took effect in January was authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino).

Assemblymembers Ramos and Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) and representatives from the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Justice

SACRAMENTO—California’s independent state auditor today reported California State University (CSU) has done little to return Native American remains and cultural items in its possession to tribes after a months-long review requested by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and the Joint Committee on Legislative Audit.

The auditor surveyed all 23 CSU campuses and conducted on-site review of Chico State, Sacramento State, San Diego State and San Jose State Universities.

Key findings revealed that only six percent of Native American remains and objects at CSU campuses had been returned

SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), the state’s first and only California Native American elected to the legislature, today joined in applauding the Supreme Court 7-2 decision upholding the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a first-ever reverse assimilation policy.

Ramos said, “California’s tribes today join other Native Americans across the United States in celebrating the reaffirmation of our sovereign right to raise our children in tribal communities where they can maintain their tribal identity, culture and traditions.” He noted that the Court’s majority opinion