# California Native American land and religious rights > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/california-native-american-land-and-religious-rights > Updated: 2026-09-02T01:52:09.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. California lawmakers have advanced legislation to expand Native American tribal authority and protections regarding ancestral lands and religious practices. Assembly Bill 1881, the California Indian Freedom Act of 2026, was introduced to prevent state agencies from substantially burdening Indigenous religious exercises. The bill aims to ensure access to sacred sites and the gathering of traditional materials. Following its passage, the law is set to take effect on January 1, 2028, requiring the state to demonstrate a compelling interest and use the least restrictive means when impacting religious practices. In a related development, Assembly Bill 2494 was approved to reform the management of California’s state forest system. This legislation moves away from commercial logging mandates to prioritize biodiversity, wildfire resilience, and carbon storage. It directs state officials to pursue agreements with Native American tribes to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge and facilitate tribal co-management of ancestral forests. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-02: California lawmakers approve Native American religious and land protections California lawmakers have approved legislation to protect Native American religious practices on state lands and shift state forest management toward tribal co-management and conservation. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-lawmakers-approve-native-american-religious-and-land-protections ### 2026-08-26: California Assembly Bill 1881 seeks to expand tribal authority over ancestral lands California Assembly Bill 1881 seeks to strengthen protections for Native American religious and spiritual practices on state lands, granting tribes more authority over ancestral sites. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-assembly-bill-1881-seeks-to-expand-tribal-authority-over-ancestral-lands --- Cite as: California Native American land and religious rights. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/california-native-american-land-and-religious-rights