AB-2187 • 2026

Public contracts: contracts for services.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Ramos
Last action: 2026-06-03
Official status: Referred to Com. on G.O.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Contracts for Services: Exemptions for Native American Tribes

This law changes how California state agencies can make contracts with federally recognized Native American tribes, allowing more flexibility in bidding and subcontracting.

What This Bill Does

Exempts contracts that only a federally recognized California Native American tribe can perform from advertising and bidding requirements.
Allows state agencies to enter into service contracts with federally recognized California Native American tribes without needing at least three competitive bids or proposals.
Permits federally recognized California Native American tribes to include subcontracts with wholly owned subsidiaries for the purpose of fulfilling interagency agreements, if they provide a limited waiver of sovereign immunity and justify costs.
Exempts California Native American tribes from restrictions on bidding after receiving consulting services contracts related to tribal cultural resources.

Who It Names or Affects

California state agencies
Federally recognized California Native American tribes

Terms To Know

Sovereign immunity: A legal principle that protects governments from being sued without their consent.
Subcontract: An agreement between a contractor and another party to perform part of the work under the main contract.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how these exemptions will be enforced or monitored.
It is unclear what happens if a tribe fails to provide justification for costs or a limited waiver of sovereign immunity as required by the law.

Bill History

2026-06-03 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 0.)
2026-05-18 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 21. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on G.O. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
2026-03-16 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and G.O.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2187, as introduced, Ramos.
Public contracts: contracts for services.
Existing law that governs state acquisition of goods and services exempts certain consulting services contracts from advertising and bidding requirements, including contracts that can only be performed by a public entity, as defined.
This bill would additionally exempt contracts that can only be performed by a federally recognized California Native American tribe from the above-described advertising and bidding requirements.
Existing law requires a state agency to secure at least 3 competitive bids or proposals for each contract for services. Existing law exempts specified contracts from this requirement, including a contract that is with, among other entities, another state agency, a local governmental entity, an auxiliary organization of the California State University, or an auxiliary organization of
a California community college.
This bill would additionally exempt a contract that is with a federally recognized California Native American tribe from the above-described provisions and would authorize a federally recognized California Native American tribe to include a subcontract with any subdivision, subsidiary, or business enterprise wholly owned by a federally recognized California Native American tribe for the purpose of fulfilling an interagency agreements if the contracting federally recognized California Native American tribe provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity and a justification of cost of service to show market equivalence of similar services.
Existing law prohibits a person, firm, or subsidiary thereof that has been awarded a consulting services contract from submitting a bid for, or being awarded a contract for, the provision of services, the procurement of goods or supplies, or any other
related action that is required, suggested, or otherwise deemed appropriate in the end product of the consulting services contract, with certain exceptions.
This bill would exempt California Native American tribes awarded a consulting services contract for tribal cultural resources purposes, as defined, from the above-described provisions.

Current Bill Text

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