For two years, Latino health advocates have pushed for legislation that would require the state to collect better health data on the number of Mesoamerican indigenous peoples who immigrate to California. After a blow to their efforts in 2023, the proponents of SB1016, also known as the Latino and Indigenous Disparities Reduction Act, are now celebrating—Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on September 28.

The Latino and Indigenous Disparities Reduction Act passed both chambers of the California State Legislature with overwhelming support in August. Now, with Gov. Newsom’s sign-off, the California Department of Public Health will begin distinguishing Mesoamerican indigenous groups in health data about Latinos. Indigenous peoples from Latin America are typically lumped into government data about Latinos, although many do not identify as Latinos themselves. The World Bank estimates there are 780 indigenous peoples and 560 indigenous languages spoken in Latin America.

The California Department of Public Health will include 10 nationalities and six languages in data collection and will leave a blank space in surveys for people to fill out additional demographic information. The agency will have five years to produce a report that includes rates for major diseases, leading causes of death, and information about pregnancy, housing, and mental health. Then, the department will begin issuing annual reports.

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