AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 8, 2025
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 23, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
95
CHAPTER 131
Statutes of 2025
[ Approved by Governor September 26, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State September 26, 2025. ]
Introduced by Assembly Member Ramos
February 20, 2025
An act to add Section 8028.73 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to Native American human remains.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. The California State University comprises 23 institutions of higher education located throughout the state.
The California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001 requires all agencies and museums, which is defined to include higher education institutions, that receive state funding and have possession or control over collections of California Native American human remains and associated funerary objects to inventory those remains and objects for repatriation to the appropriate California Indian tribes, as specified.
Existing law requires the California State University to comply with additional requirements regarding the handling, maintenance, and repatriation of Native American human remains and cultural items under the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001, including adopting and implementing policies and procedures on the systemwide requirements for submitting, processing, and implementing claims for the repatriation of human remains and cultural items, as specified.
This bill would require the California State University to develop a policy for the reburial of Native American human remains that have been repatriated on land owned by the California State University, as provided. The bill would require the policy to require the California State University to consult with California Indian tribes, including on specified topics. The bill would also require the policy to require that any proposed location for the reburial of repatriated Native American human remains be mutually agreed upon by the California State University and the California Indian tribes that are culturally affiliated with the potential reburial land.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 8028.73 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:
8028.73.
In alignment with the policy established pursuant to Section 8028.7 and consistent with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et seq.), the California State University shall, in consultation with California Indian tribes, develop a policy for the reburial of Native American human remains repatriated by the California State University on land owned by the California State University. The policy shall do both of the following:
(a) Require the California State University to consult on topics with California Indian tribes, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Campus space or land availability and its location.
(2) California Indian tribes culturally affiliated with the potential reburial land.
(3) Long-term protection and stewardship responsibilities.
(4) Compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws.
(5) Other burial-related topics as requested by consulting parties.
(6) Tribal cultural protocols access and use.
(7) Confidentiality.
(b) Require that any proposed location for the reburial of repatriated Native American human remains by the California State University be mutually agreed upon by the California State University and California Indian tribes culturally affiliated with the potential reburial land.