Replaces instances of the words or variations of the words American Indian with the words Indigenous peoples or a variation thereof

S 6436 amends multiple state laws to replace the term "American Indian" with "Indigenous peoples" or variations in legal definitions. It directly affects existing provisions in laws related to minority business enterprise eligibility, criminal justice data collection, education testing categories, and environmental conservation contracting. The bill updates statutory language across 8 sections - including corrections data categories, economic development definitions, and cannabis law provisions - to use the more inclusive term "Indigenous peoples" instead of "American Indian." This change reflects a shift in terminology to align with contemporary usage preferred by many Indigenous communities. The bill does not alter eligibility criteria or funding levels, only the descriptive language used in these legal references.