AB 2723: The California American Freedmen Affairs Division: resident registry.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Former law, until July 1, 2023, established the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, with a Special Consideration for African Americans Who are Descendants of Persons Enslaved in the United States.

Former law required the task force to, among other things, identify, compile, and synthesize the relevant corpus of evidentiary documentation of the institution of slavery that existed within the United States and the colonies, as specified, and to recommend the form of compensation that should be awarded, the instrumentalities through which it should be awarded, and who should be eligible for this compensation.

This bill would establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Division as a division within the Secretary of State’s office. The bill would specify that the purpose of the division is to verify a resident’s status as an American Freedman, as defined, and create and maintain an accurate database registry of American Freedmen residents.

This bill would require the division to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, implement the provisions of this bill, including establishing, by July 1, 2028, the American Freedmen Genealogy Office within the division to verify a resident’s status as an American Freedman and establishing the Office of Freedmen Legal Affairs to conduct and manage its legal affairs. The bill would require the division to, among other things, develop a mission statement and strategic plan for the division, and a matrix and metrics of success for the offices of the division.

This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2029, and every 3 years thereafter, the division to submit a report to the Legislature on its activities and performance. The bill would also require, commencing January 1, 2030, and every 5 years thereafter, through the California State Auditor, the Legislature to request performance and financial audits of the division and make recommendations for improvement or corrective legislation.

This bill would prohibit personal information of American Freedmen residents obtained under these provisions from being shared outside the division, except as necessary to fulfill the division’s purposes. The bill would also require interagency sharing of personal information about American Freedmen residents to be limited to demographics only, except as necessary to fulfill the division’s purposes. The bill would prohibit the division from using any division resources, including, but not limited to, division funds, personnel, and infrastructure, to directly or indirectly participate or assist in law enforcement activity.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 21, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2. February 20, 2026Read first time. To print.