Lumbee Fairness Act
Sponsored By: Senator Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced
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.
Show full summary
- 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.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal recognition and services for Lumbee
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 rules adopted November 16, 2001. The Secretary must finish verification no later than two years after the Tribe submits a digitized roll with supporting proof. After verification, the Interior and HHS Secretaries would consult the Tribe and report service needs to Congress. Members living in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland counties would be treated as living on or near a reservation for federal service delivery.
Land trust and state jurisdiction
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 and civil jurisdiction. The Secretary may accept a transfer of that jurisdiction to the United States only after consulting the U.S. Attorney General. Any transfer would not take effect until two years after the agreement's effective date.
Child-welfare rules preserved for Lumbee
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
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 determined by the bill's verification rules. The petition process would follow the existing federal acknowledgment regulations.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
NC • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 1/23/2025
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 1/24/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 1/28/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 2/3/2025
Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
SC • R
Sponsored 2/5/2025
Markwayne Mullin
OK • R
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/18/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/5/2025
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/30/2025
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/7/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov