# 119-s-107: Lumbee Fairness Act 119-s-107, Lumbee Fairness Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-107 - As of: 2026-04-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-s-107 - Congress: 119 - Title: Lumbee Fairness Act - Status: in_committee - Introduced: 2025-01-16 - Sponsor: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC) - Cosponsors: 20 - Policy area: Native Americans - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-04-21 ## Summary **Extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe.** The bill restructures the Lumbee Act of 1956 to add definitions, a new recognition framework, and rules for services, land into trust, and jurisdiction. - Tribal members and families become eligible for all federal services for recognized tribes. Members living in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland counties are treated as residing on or near a reservation for service delivery. - The Secretary of the Interior may take land into trust for the Tribe. Land in Robeson County taken into trust is treated as an on-reservation trust acquisition under 25 C.F.R. part 151. - North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction over Tribal trust land in the State. The State may transfer jurisdiction to the United States by agreement, with a two year waiting period before the transfer takes effect. - Groups of Indians in Robeson and adjoining counties who are not enrolled may petition for federal acknowledgment under 25 C.F.R. part 83. - After verification of a tribal roll, the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services must consult with the Tribe and submit to Congress a written determination of needs for services. ## Cosponsors (20) - Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-01-16T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-01-23T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-01-23T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-01-24T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-01-28T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (R-SC), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2] (R-OK), 2025-02-18T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-02-18T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-02-18T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-02-18T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-03-03T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-03-25T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-04-29T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-05-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (D-WI), 2025-05-08T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-06-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-07-30T00:00:00.000Z - Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-10-07T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Federal recognition and services for Lumbee: benefit, high. If enacted, this bill would extend federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe and its members. People on the Tribe's roll at enactment would define who gets federal Indian services, subject to verification. Verification would be limited to documentary proof that members meet the Tribe's constitution r… - Child-welfare rules preserved for Lumbee: benefit, low. If enacted, nothing in the bill's jurisdiction provisions would change how section 109 of the Indian Child Welfare Act works. Current ICWA protections and procedures covered by that section would continue to apply when the law takes effect. - Right to seek federal recognition: benefit, low. If enacted, groups of Indians in Robeson and nearby counties whose members are not enrolled in the Lumbee Tribe could petition for federal acknowledgment under the usual rules in part 83 of title 25. This only applies if the group's members are not enrolled under the Lumbee tribal roll as determine… - Land trust and state jurisdiction: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Secretary could take land into trust for the Lumbee Tribe. Land in Robeson County taken into trust would be treated as on-reservation for trust rules. For land in North Carolina held for the Tribe or a dependent Indian community, the State of North Carolina would exercise criminal a… ## Related bills - 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 - 119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell. - 119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri. - 119-sres-159: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., former Senator for the State of Louisiana. - 119-sres-148: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former Senator for the State of Wyoming. - 119-sres-19: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter and commending President Jimmy Carter for his life-long career of public service, humanitar… ## Sources - [119-s-107 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/107) ## Related - [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066) - [119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Camp…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-585) - [119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United State…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-255) - [119-sres-159: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable John Bennett Johnston, Jr., for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-159) - [119-sres-148: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Alan K. Simpson, former Senator…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-148) - [119-sres-19: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter and commend…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-19) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-107 (as of 2026-04-21).