SB-4 • 2026

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Cervantes
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest confirm all aspects of the candidate explanation without additional details or uncertainties.

Program for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

This law creates a program within the Department of Justice to help find missing or murdered Indigenous people, improve communication between different agencies, and report on these cases.

What This Bill Does

Creates a new program inside the Department of Justice called the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program.
Makes the program work with families of missing or murdered Indigenous people, tribal governments, and other law enforcement groups to help solve cases.
Requires the program to write an annual report about missing and murdered Indigenous people in California.

Who It Names or Affects

Families of missing or murdered Indigenous people
Tribal governments
Law enforcement agencies

Terms To Know

Department of Justice: The government agency that handles criminal justice issues in California.
Annual report: A yearly document that gives information about a program's activities and results.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only covers cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous people in California.
It is not clear how much money the program will get to do its work.
The requirements for reporting end on January 1, 2028.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2025-07-16 California Legislative Information
July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-06-17 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2025-06-02 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1371.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1186.) (May 23).
2025-05-16 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-04-07 California Legislative Information
April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 7.
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 532.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-03-07 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 25.
2025-01-29 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2024-12-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after January 2.
2024-12-02 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 4, as amended, Cervantes.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program.
Existing law establishes the Department of Justice, and makes the department responsible, in part, for overseeing statewide criminal justice programs.
Existing law requires the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance to local law enforcement agencies and tribal governments relating to, among other things, providing guidance for law enforcement education and training on policing and criminal investigations on Indian lands, providing guidance on improving crime reporting, crime statistics, criminal procedures, and investigative tools, and facilitating and supporting improved communication between local law enforcement agencies and tribal governments.
This bill would establish a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Justice Program within and
under the discretion of the Department of Justice. The bill would impose specified responsibilities on the program, including facilitating collaboration and acting as a liaison between tribal victims’ families, tribal governments, and federal, tribal, state, and out-of-state law enforcement agencies, where appropriate, regarding active and inactive cases involving missing and murdered indigenous persons in California, including cases involving human trafficking. The bill, until January 1,
2029,
2028,
would require the program to submit an annual report to both houses of the Legislature containing, among other things, data on the number of and facts about cases involving missing and murdered indigenous persons in California.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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