Ramos’ California Indian Freedom Act hits an impasse with opponents

Assemblymember James Ramos, D-Highland, has reached an impasse with opponents of the California Indian Freedom Act, both parties said ahead of a key Senate committee vote Thursday. Ramos’s measure seeks to give Native Americans more say over government agency actions on state-owned land that may interfere with traditional customs and spiritual practices. The bill is one of the more ambitious efforts from Ramos, the Legislature’s only Native American lawmaker, who said he wants to ensure people can’t be blocked access to sacred sites or halted from engaging in traditional customs on government land