AB 977 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001: California State University: burial sites: human remains.

Summary
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.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Assembly Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Aug 2025
Signed into Law
Sep 2025
Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Signed Sep 26, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Aug 25, 2025 · Assembly Jun 3, 2025

How they voted

370
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 40
Aug 25, 2025
D Democratic30
28 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican10
9 Yea 1
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
11
Committee
8
Amendments
5
Sep 26, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor.
legislature
Sep 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2807.).
lower
Aug 26, 2025
Introduced
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
lower
Aug 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2251.).
upper
Aug 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
upper
Jul 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Jul 8, 2025
Introduced
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.
upper
Jun 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on ED.
upper
Jun 3, 2025
Assembly · Passed
Assembly Vote: pass (78-0)
assembly
Jun 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1912.)
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
lower
May 23, 2025
Introduced
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (May 23).
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors