CaliforniaAgencies working with or affecting tribal governments would name contacts
State agencies that engage tribal governments or have work affecting them would name a main contact, while a Governor-appointed committee would advise the Office of Tribal Affairs.
What it does
State agencies that engage tribal governments or have work affecting them would name a main contact near agency leadership and adopt a policy for consulting tribes.
California would put the existing Office of Tribal Affairs into state law in place of the older tribal advisor office. Its Governor-appointed secretary must be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe in California.
Nine tribal chairs nominated across California would advise the Office of Tribal Affairs after the Governor appoints them by June 2027. They cannot approve agency actions.
The Office of Tribal Affairs would help agencies put their policies for consulting tribes into practice and talk directly with tribal governments. It would train agency staff and tribal contacts.
Argument forTribal governments could reach agency leaders more easily because covered agencies must put their main tribal contact in or near leadership.
Argument againstTribal governments might see limited results from the committee’s advice because it cannot approve agency actions or replace direct consultation.
More detail
Covered state agencies would name a main contact for tribal governments and adopt a policy for consulting them. This covers California agencies, departments, boards, and commissions that engage tribal governments or have programs, services, or duties affecting them. The contact must work in the agency’s executive office or report directly to its chair or chief executive. The policy must follow two existing executive orders on tribal consultation.
State law would establish the Office of Tribal Affairs in place of the Governor’s Tribal Advisor office. The office sits within the Governor’s office. The Governor appoints the secretary and may replace them at any time. The secretary must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe in California.
The Governor would appoint nine tribal chairs nominated by tribes to advise the Office of Tribal Affairs. Tribes in each of California’s northern, central, and southern regions would nominate three members. The committee can recommend changes but cannot approve agency actions or replace formal consultation with tribes. The Governor must appoint members by the end of June 2027. After appointment, the committee must meet at least three times a year beginning in the second quarter of 2027 and at least four times a year beginning in 2028.
The Office of Tribal Affairs would help agencies consult tribal governments and train agency staff. This work covers state agencies, tribal governments, and agency tribal contacts.
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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 449, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 25Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 4Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 27Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6721.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 2507 Nguyen Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 27In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB2507 Nguyen et al. By Cervantes. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read 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. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (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] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on 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 5327.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 2507 Nguyen 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
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 21. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 23Coauthors revised.
- Apr 22
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9Referred to Com. on G.O.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced
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