CaliforniaCalifornia's signed law apologizes for harms to California Native Americans
California's signed law says the state accepts responsibility for violence against California Native Americans, apologizes for legislative harms, and directs lawmakers to prepare a formal apology.
What it does
The signed law says California accepts responsibility for violence its representatives supported or allowed against California Native Americans. The Legislature apologizes for harms tied to policies it passed, approved, or tolerated.
The state must install and maintain a visible Capitol plaque with the apology. Officials may use any grant or donation money they receive for this work.
Lawmakers must prepare a formal apology with the state seal and ask four state leaders to sign it. The final copy must be available for public viewing in the State Archives.
Argument forA formal apology kept in the State Archives could give California Native American communities a lasting public record of the state's acknowledgment.
Argument againstDesigning and maintaining the required Capitol plaque could use state staff time and money, even if officials receive grants or donations.
More detail
The state accepts responsibility for harms tied to its representatives' violent policies, and the Legislature apologizes for harms linked to its own policies. This covers California Native Americans and their tribal communities, including damage to cultural and spiritual sites and harm from forced displacement and family separation.
The Department of General Services must plan, install, and maintain a plaque about the apology. The plaque must be plainly visible in the State Capitol Building and include the law's historical findings and apology. The Joint Rules Committee must approve the design. Officials must address disability access and safety. Officials may accept grants or private donations. Money they receive for this purpose is set aside for it without a yearly budget vote.
The Legislature must prepare a formal apology, and the Secretary of State must send a final copy to the State Archives. The final copy must be available for the public to view in the State Archives. The apology must bear the state seal. The Assembly speaker, Senate leader, governor, and state's top judge are asked to sign it. The State Archives must keep the final copy available for public viewing permanently.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 25Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 448, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 25Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 3Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 6579.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2115 Ramos Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2115 Ramos et al. By Laird. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on G.O. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on G.O.Minor
- Jun 16
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Governmental Organization]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 3Referred to Coms. on JUD. and G.O.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 5307.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2115 Ramos Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 18Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Mar 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Coauthors revised.
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Feb 19From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.
- Feb 18Read first time. To print.Introduced
Government & Ethics