Farmer equity: advisory committees.

Removed 'as amended' from the legislative counsel's digest heading, which is standard when a bill becomes enrolled as the final version.

Added passage dates and signature blocks for both chambers (Assembly passed January 26, 2026; Senate passed August 20, 2026) and a Governor approval block with blank date fields.

Removed prior amendment history dates (January 8, 2026; January 5, 2026; April 21, 2025; March 10, 2025) and line-by-line numbering from the bill text.

All Native American resources provisions were removed from the bill, including amendments to the Civil Code (conservation easements for tribes), Government Code (general plan guidelines, notice requirements, tribal consultation definitions and processes), and Public Resources Code (CEQA tribal consultation, Native American Heritage Commission duties, protection of human remains and sacred sites).

The bill's stated purpose was reduced from a multi-code act covering Native American resources and food and agriculture to solely an act adding Section 513.5 to the Food and Agricultural Code relating to farmer equity advisory committees.

Removed requirements for local governments to conduct government-to-government tribal consultation with federally recognized tribes and additional consulting party participation for nonfederally recognized tribes on the contact list during general plan preparation and CEQA review.

Removed state-mandated local program provisions and related fiscal notes that would have required reimbursement determinations for costs imposed on local agencies by the Native American resources mandates.

Added Section 513.5 to the Food and Agricultural Code, authorizing the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish two advisory committees: the BIPOC Producer Advisory Committee and the Small-Scale Producer Advisory Committee, to advise on programs, policies, education, outreach, and technical assistance for small-scale, medium-scale, and socially disadvantaged producers in California.

The definition of 'consultation' was changed from a 'formal 2-way government-to-government process and dialogue between governmental agencies and federally recognized Native American tribes' with 'deference to federally recognized tribes' expertise' to 'the meaningful and timely process of seeking, discussing, and considering carefully the views of others, in a manner that is cognizant of all parties' cultural values.' This removes the government-to-government framing and specific deference language.

Throughout the bill, references to 'nonfederally recognized tribal groups' and 'lineal descendant groups' were replaced with 'tribes that are not federally recognized,' elevating the status of these entities from 'groups' to 'tribes' in statutory language.

Added new legislative findings (12) and (13) clarifying that nonfederally recognized tribes on the Native American Heritage Commission contact list may participate as 'additional consulting parties' (a construct borrowed from federal law), and that deference shall be provided to federally recognized tribal governments concerning tribal information and knowledge including identification of tribal cultural resources, burial sites, and sacred sites.

The state-mandated local program designation was changed from 'yes' to 'no,' meaning the bill no longer triggers state reimbursement obligations to local agencies for costs mandated by this legislation.

The term 'lineal descendent groups' was systematically removed throughout the bill and replaced with 'tribes.' Previously, the bill distinguished between federally recognized tribes and nonfederally recognized 'lineal descendent groups.' Now both are simply referred to as 'California Native American tribes,' removing that legal distinction in state law.

The definition of 'consultation' was expanded to include 'the meaningful and timely process of seeking, discussing, and considering carefully the views of others, in a manner that is cognizant of all parties' cultural values,' adding a broader standard beyond just government-to-government dialogue.

Section 815.3 of the Civil Code (conservation easements) was changed from allowing 'a federally recognized California Native American tribe or a nonfederally recognized California Native American tribe that is on the contact list' to simply 'a California Native American tribe that is on the contact list administered and maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.' This broadens eligibility for holding conservation easements.

The bill now explicitly requires the lead agency or local government to invite culturally affiliated nonfederally recognized California Native American tribes to participate in processes required under CEQA. This is a new affirmative duty on agencies.

The fiscal committee designation was changed from 'no' to 'yes' and the state-mandated local program designation was changed from 'no' to 'yes.' This means the bill now formally acknowledges it imposes costs on local agencies that require state reimbursement analysis under the California Constitution.

The short title of the act removed the separate reference to amending Section 5097.94 of the Public Resources Code (Native American Heritage Commission powers and duties), consolidating the bill's focus on Native American resources more broadly.

The bill was expanded from a single nonsubstantive amendment to Section 5097.94 of the Public Resources Code into a multi-code act amending or adding sections across the Civil Code, Government Code, and Public Resources Code, covering conservation easements, general plan guidelines, public hearing notice, tribal consultation, CEQA processes, human remains protection, and commission duties.

Added extensive legislative findings declaring that current protections for Native American human remains, burial sites, sacred places, and tribal cultural resources are limited and inadequate, and that the 2014 version of AB 52 has been misunderstood by lead agencies who treated tribal consultation as a procedural step rather than substantive government-to-government dialogue.

Required the Native American Heritage Commission to prepare and maintain a verified inventory of Native American sacred places known as the 'California Sacred Lands File' covering both public and private lands, and to include delineation of culturally affiliated lands and geographic areas in the tribal contact list.

Revised and recast CEQA tribal consultation provisions to specify that the purpose is identification and determination of tribal cultural resources and mitigation measures, that consultation duration runs from the tribe's request through completion of mitigation implementation, and that a lead agency may certify an EIR or adopt a negative declaration once the first step of consultation is completed.

Required that for CEQA projects where multiple human remains are discovered, the project must contain an open-space preservation area with an appropriate buffer for in-place preservation and protection of the human remains and burial site.

Required state and local agencies to appear at Native American Heritage Commission meetings when a matter within their authority is on the commission's agenda, and to transmit copies (electronic or physical) of certain project information related to property identified as of special religious significance to Native Americans.

Expanded conservation easement authority under Civil Code Section 815.3 to allow California Native American tribes on the NAHC contact list to acquire and hold easements not only when voluntarily conveyed but also when 'otherwise conveyed pursuant to CEQA,' broadening how tribes can protect sacred places through land use regulation.

Authorized nonfederally recognized California Native American tribal groups on the NAHC contact list to participate in the review process related to consultations as additional consulting parties, while clarifying that only federally recognized tribes are legally entitled to government-to-government consultation.

Changed the deadline for general plan guidelines to include tribal consultation advice from March 1, 2005 to March 1, 2026, and expanded the required content to include advice on obtaining tribal information and knowledge, not just consulting with tribes.

Revised the definition of 'consultation' in the Planning and Zoning Law to mean a formal 2-way government-to-government process between governmental agencies and federally recognized Native American tribes, with deference to federally recognized tribes' expertise, tribal knowledge, and information concerning culturally affiliated resources.

Repealed the exemption for public properties of cities, counties, and cities and counties from human remains protection requirements, prohibited disturbance of locations where multiple Native American human remains are discovered during ground-disturbing development, and required landowners to engage in conferral with the most likely descendant for culturally appropriate treatment.

Changed the fiscal committee determination from 'no' to 'yes' and the state-mandated local program determination from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now imposes costs on local agencies that may require state reimbursement under the Commission on State Mandates.