Sponsors
Introduced April 17, 2025 by Don Davis · Last progress April 17, 2025
The bill formally recognizes the Haliwa Saponi and places lands into trust, expanding tribal self-governance and access to federal programs and funding while creating additional federal and local administrative costs, jurisdictional changes, and transitional impacts for some residents and governments.
Members of the Haliwa Saponi Tribe gain formal federal recognition and a government-to-government relationship, making them eligible for protection and programs available to federally recognized tribes.
Tribal members and tribal institutions become eligible for federal Indian programs (including programs under the Indian Reorganization Act) and expanded access to federal economic development, housing, education, and social-services funding.
The bill enables trust acquisition and initial reservation status for specified lands, strengthening tribal sovereignty, jurisdiction, and capacity to pursue land-based economic development (housing, enterprises) on those lands.
Federal recognition and provision of services will create additional administrative responsibilities and costs for federal agencies and taxpayers to deliver services to a newly recognized tribe.
Verification requirements and a limited six-county service area could delay some members' enrollment and exclude tribal members living outside the designated area from local federal service delivery.
Converting lands to trust and initial reservation status can change tax jurisdiction and local land-use authority, creating disruptions for non-tribal residents, homeowners, and local governments.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Recognizes the Haliwa Saponi as a federally recognized tribe, extends government-to-government relations, makes the Tribe eligible for federal Indian programs, defines a service area, and authorizes land to be taken into trust.
Grants federal recognition to the Haliwa Saponi Indian Tribe of North Carolina, establishing a government-to-government relationship with the United States and making the Tribe eligible for the same federal services and benefits available to other federally recognized tribes. It defines the Tribe’s service area and membership roll, and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust and proclaim an initial reservation for the Tribe.