Restoration Magazine

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) regularly updates a database for state legislation (bit.ly/3QTC8OK) relating to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). This database includes summaries, latest actions, sponsors, and other information regarding state-level legislation. The MMIW State Legislative Tracker does not advocate for any legislation, nor does it provide any analysis; it is a tool that allows advocates, legislators, allies, community members, and grassroots organizers to navigate current state legislation easily. Legislation recently acted upon:

Alaska SB151  |  “Missing/Murdered Indigenous People; Report.”

• Introduced on May 13, 2023. Passed by the Legislature. Pending Governor’s signature. • Sponsors: Senators Olson, Gray-Jackson, Dunbar, Bishop, Claman, Hoffman, Stedman, Tobin, Myers, Kawasaki, Wielechowski, Kiehl, Stevens.

“An Act establishing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Review Commission; relating to missing and murdered indigenous persons; relating to the duties of the Department of Public Safety; and providing for an effective date.”

California  AB2279   |  “An act to add Section 15008 to the Government Code, relating to state government.”

• Introduced by Assembly Members Cervantes and Ramos on February 8, 2024.

“This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to create establish a Bureau of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Women, Girls, and Persons within the Department of Justice. The bill would impose specified responsibilities on the bureau, including facilitating collaboration between tribal governments and federal, state, and out-of-state law enforcement regarding cases involving missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and persons in California. The bill, until January 1, 2029, would require the bureau to submit an annual report to both houses of the Legislature containing data on the number of and facts about cases involving missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and persons in California.”

Nebraska LB328   | “Create the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons.”

• Introduced on January 11, 2023.
• Sponsor: Senator Raybould.

“The Attorney General shall establish the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. The Attorney General shall staff the office with a full-time specialist, who shall serve as the liaison among local, state, tribal, and federal entities involved in reporting or investigating missing and murdered indigenous persons cases in Nebraska.”

New York A08545  | “Directs the division of criminal justice services to establish a task force on missing women and girls who are black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).”

• Introduced on January 8, 2024.
• Sponsor: Assembly member Reyes.

“An Act to amend a chapter of the laws of 2023 establishing a task force on missing women and girls who are black, indigenous and people of color, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 4266-A and A. 5088-A, in relation to directing the division of criminal justice services to establish a task force on missing women and girls who are black, Indigenous and people of color; and to repeal certain provisions of such law related thereto.”