# 119-s-1508: Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

119-s-1508, Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1508
- As of: 2026-10-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1508
- Congress: 119
- Title: Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-04-29
- Sponsor: Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-08

## Summary

**This bill would clarify who can hear civil and contract disputes involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and their trust lands.** It focuses on defining jurisdiction between Utah courts and federal courts and on extending leasing authority for Shivwits trust land. - The Shivwits Band and its enterprises would keep sovereign immunity from unconsented suits while retaining the ability to waive that immunity. The bill also adds Shivwits trust land to an existing federal leasing authority. - The State of Utah would gain civil jurisdiction over causes of action that involve the Shivwits Band and arise on or within Shivwits Indian lands, so state courts could hear those disputes. - Federal courts would be able to hear contract and lease disputes involving the Shivwits Band by treating those contracts as falling under federal commerce and federal-question jurisdiction.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Leasing rules extended to Shivwits land: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would add Shivwits trust land to an existing 1955 law that governs leasing of tribal lands. This would let the Shivwits Band use the same leasing process and leasing preferences as other listed trust lands. The change would take effect on enactment and apply to covered leases.
- Shivwits sovereign immunity preserved: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would not remove the Shivwits Band's sovereign immunity from unconsented lawsuits. The Band would keep the power to waive immunity if it chooses. This protection would take effect on enactment.
- New court rules for Shivwits contracts: mixed, low. If enacted, contracts and leases tied to Shivwits Indian lands would be treated as commerce under federal law. This would let federal courts hear disputes from those contracts as federal questions. The bill would also give the State of Utah jurisdiction over civil cases involving the Band that aris…
- Who counts as Shivwits tribal land: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would define which lands count as Shivwits Indian lands as trust land or land with a U.S. restriction on sale. It would also say who counts as the Shivwits Band, including the governing body, tribal businesses, and corporations chartered under section 17. These definitions woul…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-5433: Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act
- 119-s-4610: Pacific POWER Act

## Sources
- [119-s-1508 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1508)

## Related
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-1462: Fix Our Forests Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1462)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-3597: National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3597)
- [119-s-5433: Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5433)
- [119-s-4610: Pacific POWER Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4610)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1508 (as of 2026-10-08).