The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names (CACGN) is in the early stages of developing regulations to implement AB 2022 (Ramos, 2022), legislation that established a process for identifying and renaming geographic features and places with names determined to be offensive or derogatory. The law, codified in Government Code Section 8899.94, directs the California Natural Resources Agency and CACGN to create a petition-based process through which individuals, tribes, organizations, and local governments may propose the review and renaming of geographic features throughout the state.
As part of this effort, the California Natural Resources Agency and CACGN have released draft regulations outlining the proposed Petition Process to Identify and Rename Offensive and Derogatory Places and Features. The regulations address how petitions may be submitted, evaluated, and acted upon, as well as opportunities for public input and coordination with affected communities, tribes, and local jurisdictions. Given the potential implications for local place names, landmarks, natural features, and public records, counties may wish to monitor the development of these regulations and participate in the public engagement process.
To provide additional information and gather stakeholder feedback, the California Natural Resources Agency will host a public webinar on June 18, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Interested supervisors, county staff, and other stakeholders may register for the webinar HERE.