Press Releases

Tribes, educators prepare to implement Ramos’s California Indian Education Act
Bill encourages local tribal family & school engagement, more accurate Native American curriculum, narrowing of achievement gap

SAN JACINTO—Tribal leaders and educators gathered today to discuss how to prepare for AB 1703, the California Indian Education Act, which will take effect in January and that encourages local school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to engage with regional Native American tribes to develop curriculum and discuss issues of concern. Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D

COARSEGOLD—Feather Alert – a public notification tool to combat an all too deadly epidemic –Missing and Murdered Indigenous People—will be available in January to help law enforcement quickly notify the public about the disproportionate number of missing Native Americans and enlist their aid for timely leads to locate victims and prosecute suspects – and today tribal leaders and others gathered to learn how the system will work and provide their input for effective implementation.

Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-Highland), Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) and Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) and

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed a measure encouraging the state and its agencies to consult with California tribes and tribal organizations when state actions have a direct impact on the tribes and also requiring state officials to receive training about tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction. AB 923, is one measure in a five-bill tribal package authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) and that Newsom has approved. 

In his release announcing his approval of the tribal bills, Newsom said, ““As we lift up the rich history and contributions of California’s diverse tribal

SACRAMENTO—Governor Gavin Newsom approved a bill encouraging local schools to create task forces of area educators and tribal representatives to share local tribal history and culture, discuss issues of mutual concern and develop Native American curriculum and classroom materials. The measure, AB 1703, the California Indian Education Act, introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) was part of a five-bill tribal package the lawmaker sent to Newsom and which he has approved.

Newsom stated in his release announcing approval of the measures, ““As we lift up the rich history and

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed AB 1314 which would enlist public assistance when Indigenous people are missing under suspicious circumstances. The California Highway Patrol would activate the alert at the request of local law enforcement and it work much like an Amber Alert. AB 1314 was authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) and was one of a five-bill tribal package Ramos introduced and that Newsom has signed.

In announcing his approval of the proposal, Newsom said, “Today’s measures continue to move these efforts forward, including a new emergency alert system that

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed a bill allowing the University of California, Hastings College of the Law to remove the name of its notorious founder from the school’s name and specifying restorative justice measures to benefit the Yuki and Round Valley Indian people. The proposal, AB 1936, was introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) and co-authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). The measure was part of a five-bill tribal package Newsom approved.

AB 1936 strikes the name of Serranus C. Hastings from the school’s name and specifies restorative justice

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Newsom today signed a proposal to prohibit the use of the word “squaw” (S-word) for geographic features and place names in California by January 1, 2024. The measure, AB 2022, was introduced by Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-Highland), the first California Native American elected to the state legislature and Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. AB 2022 was part of a five-bill Ramos tribal package sent to Newsom and which he has approved.

In the release announcing approval of the tribal measures, Newsom said, “As we lift up the

SAN BERNARDINO— Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) and Presiding Judge R. Glenn Yabuno of the San Bernardino Superior Court today commemorated the first ever paid California Native American Day holiday extended to staff of a state entity – court personnel. This year the holiday falls on Friday, September 23.

Ramos successfully introduced AB 855 in 2021 to permit court personnel to switch Columbus Day for California Native American Day. The Judicial Council sponsored the bill.

The lawmaker, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe, is the first California Native American lawmaker elected in

SACRAMENTO—Legislation encouraging school districts to collaborate with local tribes to increase knowledge about California Native Americans in their communities and help prevent incidents such as the one involving a Riverside mathematics teacher who last October mocked and insulted Indian culture will be introduced in coming days announced Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland).

“We are fine tuning language in the bill and will introduce it soon,” reported Ramos, the first California Native American elected to the Legislature. He said the new bill will be a first step toward increasing

Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-Highland) today issued the following statement following a special board meeting of the Riverside Unified School District aimed at eliminating cultural bias and insensitivity towards Native Americans. The hearing was called after a classroom incident involving a teacher mimicking a Native American dance while wearing a faux Native American headdress to teach math concepts.

"I wish to thank the Riverside Unified School District Board of Education and its administration for committing during today’s board meeting to address insensitivities demonstrated by the