Assemblymember James C. Ramos (San Manuel Band of Mission Indians), the only Native American in the California Assembly, released the following statement following Assembly approval of the state budget trailer bills:
"This budget bill is the product of compromise and moves us forward on critical needs and priorities for the state such as accelerating the pace of building new homes and increasing affordability. As chair of the Assembly budget subcommittee dealing with public safety, I was proud that we were able to maintain $100 million for Victims of Crime Act funding and add $10 million in support for family justice centers statewide. We also included resources to prevent sexual abuse inside women’s prisons.
As the first and only California Native American elected to the legislature, I was pleased to see that the state continues to work toward creating a new chapter with the tribes residing here. Specifically, I want to highlight a few funding items in the overall budget:
As the first and only California Native American elected to the Legislature, I am encouraged to see continued state efforts to build a stronger relationship with California’s tribes. Notable tribal-related investments in this year’s budget include:
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Military Retirees’ Pension Tax Exemption
Governor Newsom included a $20,000 exemption for military retirees' pensions. California remains the only state that fully taxes federal military pensions. I introduced AB 53 to codify this exemption, continuing efforts from prior legislative sessions. -
Foster Care Bridge Funding
The budget provides a one-time allocation of $31.5 million in 2025–26 to stabilize Foster Family Agencies (FFAs), supporting over 7,400 foster youth statewide. These funds will help FFAs address $36.1 million in rising insurance costs and include $10.6 million to increase reimbursement rates until a new funding model launches in 2027.
“Foster youth are among our most vulnerable populations. Stabilizing their support services is essential to preventing further harm,” I stated. -
Tribal Police Pilot Program
A one-time $5 million investment will establish a Tribal Police Pilot Program, as outlined in my bill AB 31. This program, under the Department of Justice, would grant tribal police state peace officer status if they meet certain standards.
'This is a critical step in addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis. Granting state status will reduce jurisdictional barriers, improve response times, and enhance coordination across law enforcement agencies," I said. -
California Indian Nations College (CINC)
The budget includes $10 million in one-time funding to support CINC’s operations and academic growth. Enrollment has nearly doubled between Fall 2022 and Fall 2024. These funds will allow for hiring full-time faculty and staff, expanding course offerings, creating transfer pathways, and building career and technical education programs. -
Native American Monument in Capitol Park
Ongoing funding of $150,000 and an additional $200,000 for the Department of General Services will support the upkeep of the Native American Monument in Capitol Park. Dedicated in November 2023, the eight-foot bronze statue of Miwok leader William J. Franklin Sr. honors the tribal nations whose ancestral lands include the Capitol grounds and all California Native peoples who have worked to preserve their languages, cultures, and histories."
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