Assembly BillChaptered/SignedHealth and Safety
AB 977: California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001: California State University: burial sites: human remains.
What AB 977 does, verified December 7, 2025
The bill requires 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 university. The policy must be consulted with California Indian tribes, including discussions on the handling and repatriation of remains, and the proposed location for reburial must be mutually agreed upon by the university and the tribes. This policy is aimed at ensuring the respectful and dignified treatment of Native American human remains.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 131, Statutes of 2025. (2025-08-25)Alert me
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| Sep. 26, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 131, Statutes of 2025. |
| Sep. 26, 2025 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 09, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. |
| Sep. 02, 2025 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2807.). |
| Sep. 02, 2025 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0.). |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 26, 2025 · 554 words
Assembly Bill No. 977
CHAPTER 131
An act to add Section 8028.73 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to Native American human remains.
[ Approved by Governor September 26, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State September 26, 2025. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 977, Ramos. California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 2001: California State University: burial sites: human remains.
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.
Text of AB 977 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions