Assemblymember Kalra’s Bill to Address Water Injustices Impacting California Tribes Sent to Governor Newsom

SACRAMENTO - Assembly Bill (AB) 2218, authored by Assemblymember Kalra (D-San José), passed the legislature with bipartisan support and now heads to the Governor. AB 2218 establishes a state policy of recognizing and addressing historic water-related inequities perpetuated by state-sanctioned actions against California Native American Tribes.

"Despite being the original stewards of this land, Tribes have been systemically dispossessed of the water resources they have been depending on for millennia. I am proud to author AB 2218, a measure that will support California's efforts to respectfully and effectively address the historic water inequities that continue to affect Tribal communities," Assemblymember Ash Kalra said. "I hope Governor Newsom will recognize this bill as an essential component in the state's ongoing work to address this injustice."

As the original stewards of the land, indigenous communities have developed a deep and comprehensive understanding of its complex ecological systems, including its vital watersheds. However, Western colonization led to widespread land seizures that deprived Tribes of their traditional water resources and watershed management practices. Although state agencies have worked to engage Tribes on water issues, their impact has been limited by a lack of statutory authority to respond to water-related inequities. AB 2218 will foster a more collaborative relationship between the state and sovereign, self-governing Tribal nations, empowering them to protect the water that gives every Californian life.

"For generations, decisions about our rivers and water have been made without the meaningful participation of the Tribal people who have depended on and cared for these waters since time immemorial," said Kenneth Brink, Vice Chair of the Karuk Tribe. "AB 2218 is an important step toward changing that relationship. Tribes need to be at the table when decisions are being made, not brought in after the important decisions have already been made."

"The Governor has acknowledged the terrible history of dispossession suffered by Native People but the legislature has yet to translate that acknowledgement into policy changes," said Malissa Tayaba, Vice Chair of Shingle Springs Band of Miwok. "Water decisions affect our fisheries, our cultures, our economies and the ecosystems that sustain our communities. Meaningful Tribal participation in those decisions is both a matter of good public policy and justice."

AB 2218 is sponsored by the Karuk Tribe and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and supported by a broad coalition of tribal and environmental justice organizations. The bill is coauthored by Assemblymember Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) and Senator McGuire (D-Healdsburg).

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Assemblymember Ash Kalra represents California's 25th Assembly District, which encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County. He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fifth term in 2024. Assemblymember Kalra is the Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and also serves as a member on the Housing & Community Development, Labor & Employment, Natural Resources, and Utilities & Energy committees.