Assembly Standing Committee on Governmental Organization

Good afternoon. We'll go ahead and get started. As you all know, there's multiple committees going on, so everybody's going back and forth. So we will start as a subcommittee so that Assemblymember Nguyen can, present her bills. And all of you know that we're ping ponging today, so please be patient with all of us, and, hopefully, we can get through this as quickly as possible.

Assmeblymember Nguyen. Yes. Oh, I'm going ahead and calling the meeting to order. Assemblymember, you may begin.

There it goes. Madam Chair, I've got two bills. Is it okay with you that I start with file item number 11, AB 2507? Perfect.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair and Members, I'm here to present AB 2507, which straightens the California government to government relationship with federally recognized tribal governments. At its core, this bill is about making sure tribal governments have a clear and consistent seat at the table when decisions impact their communities. AB 2507 creates a clear structure for how state agencies engage with tribal governments. So consultation is meaningful, consistent, and happens early, not after decisions have already been made.

Currently, engagement with tribal org governments varies across agencies. Some departments have strong practices in place, while others do not. Without a clear structure, consultation can be inconsistent, happen too late, or not at all. That makes it harder for tribal governments to navigate state programs and harder for state to deliver programs that actually work. In my district, Wilton Rancheria is an important partner, and I've seen how strong collaboration leads to better outcomes for communities.

When tribal governments are brought in early, programs are stronger, more effective, and better reflect the communities they are meant to serve. With me here today to testify in support is Vice Chair Raquel Williams of Wilton Rancheria.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon, madam chair and members. Thank you for this opportunity to testify on AB 2507. My name is Raquel Williams. I serve as Wilton Rancheria's Vice Chairwoman.

Wilton Rancheria is a sovereign tribal nations whose citizens are primarily Miwok and Nisenan. These are ancestral lands, and this is our responsibility to serve our people and generations to come. I'm here in in full support of 2507 because quite simply, the current systems are not working as well as they should be for tribes of this state. Over the past fifteen years, California has over the past fifteen years, California has made progress in opening up state programs to tribal governments.

But often, those programs were built without tribal input resulting in barriers to access and programs, that underperform.

Even when tribes are invited in, engagement is inconsistent. There's no clear structure across state agencies. Tribal liaisons vary in authority. Consultation practices differ, and advisory bodies are created program by program instead of through a coordinated approach. The result is insufficiency on all sides.

Programs don't reach communities they were intended to serve, and tribes spend unnecessary time navigating the systems that weren't designed with them in mind from the beginning. AB 2705- 2507 fixes that. This bill does three practical things. First, it ensures that state agencies have clearly designed clearly designated tribal liaison at the executive level so that tribes have consistent, accountable points of contact.

Second, it creates a tribal advisory committee made up of tribal leaders that provide direct ongoing input to the secretary of tribal affairs so programs can be shaped by the communities they are meant to serve.

And third, it strengthens coordination and and consultation across agencies, so we're not solving the same problems over and over in silos. These improvements will lead to a better program design, better implementation, and ultimately better outcomes for tribes in California. On behalf of Wilton Rancheria, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Any other witnesses in support?

Good afternoon. My name is Leia Ahuactzin. I'm tribal counsel with Wilton Rancheria. And I'll just quickly add that AB 2507, it's not just about process, it's about respect, coordination, and delivering results for tribal communities and the state of California alike.

Thank you, okay.

Hi. Chris LIndstrom, Executive Officer of the California Tribal Business Alliance. CTBA is in support, and I'm just here to answer any questions. Thanks.

Thank you. Any members of the audience in support? You may come up. State your name and your position. Hearing none, we'll bring it back.

Any witnesses in opposition? Okay. Seeing none, any members of the audience in opposition? Okay. Seeing none, we'll bring it up to the committee.

Any questions from committee members? Okay. Hearing none. Thank you, Assemblymember.

Madam Chair.

Yes. Oh, I'm sorry.

I just wanna thank, the author and and and the sponsors for bringing this, bill forward. I think it it's, it's something that needs to be done here in the state of California, considering the the history and and the past towards our people. And if it's okay with the the author, I'd like to be added as a co author.

Thank you. Any other comments from the dais? No? Hearing none. Thank you very much.

Assemblymember Nguyen, you may close.

Thank you, madam chair. And I do wanna thank Assemblymember Ramos because we have had extensive conversation about this, for not just months, but I think over a span of a few years now. And, as the chair of the Native American Caucus, I absolutely respect you and this community, and it's a blessing to hear your support around this and wanting to be added on this.

But also as somebody who leads all of us here at the state capitol, it's one of those where we come to you for advice. We come to you on how should we handle this, and you've been nothing but amazing in every step of the way in this.

I I wanna thank you for that. And with that, Madam Chair, when the time is appropriate, respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you very much. And we do- we're a subcommittee, when we have a quorum we'll ask for motions and seconds. Thank you. You may begin your second, though.

Thank you. And then we, go back to let's see. Let's start with, item number six, AB 2024, Assemblymember Wynne. I have move I have a motion by Assemblymember Pacheco and second by Assemblymember Fong. Okay. Madam secretary, can you please call the roll? File item six, AB 2024 Nguyen.

[Roll Call]

Okay. The consent calendar calendar is out, and we'll wait for adding members. And before we continue, can you help me wish assembly member Soria a happy birthday? Happy birthday.

Hey. Alright. Thank you. Back to business. Item three, Assemblymember Ransom, bill number 1650. You may begin.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Okay. We're done with that part of it. Assembly member Carrillo, you may present the last bill of the afternoon in this committee, then everybody has to go to all the other committees.

Then we go back to other committees.

Yes. Assembly member Carrillo.

[Roll Call]

Alright. I think we have concluded our business. We are adjourned at 04:35 8PM. Now we have to run.