Sponsors (3)
Introduced June 23, 2025 by Jerry Moran · Last progress June 23, 2025
The bill trades stronger tribal self-determination, predictable federal support, and institutional autonomy for Haskell (expanded tuition-free education, property control, and endowment growth) against increased federal costs, concentrated Board authority, reduced federal employee protections, potential local revenue loss, and new administrative and legal constraints.
Indigenous students and tribal communities gain a permanently chartered, tribally governed university with tuition-free access and culturally-relevant programs, preserving higher-education opportunities for Native students.
The University receives stable baseline federal funding and trust contributions (minimum annual appropriations plus trust support), creating predictable operating funds for programs, campus safety, and continuing services.
Federal matching of private donations and new endowment governance can significantly grow the University's financial resources (matched capital, interest withdrawals, independent endowment oversight), improving long‑term fiscal stability and capacity to support students and facilities.
Federal employees transferred to the University lose Title 5 civil‑service protections and federal procedural safeguards, creating significant risks to job security, due process, and long‑term benefits for affected workers.
The Act creates recurring and contingent federal spending commitments (minimum appropriations, trust matching, and potential long‑term federal exposure through endowment matching), increasing taxpayer obligations and budget pressure.
Concentrating authority in a 15‑member Board (including high removal/appointment thresholds and executive Board powers) risks reduced oversight, politicized leadership decisions, and limited faculty/employee input into academic and personnel matters.
Based on analysis of 24 sections of legislative text.
Charters Haskell as an independent, tax‑exempt university with its own Board, personnel system, endowment trust with federal matching, and authorized federal funding.
Creates a federally chartered, tax‑exempt Haskell Indian Nations University governed by an independent 16‑member Board (15 voting, 1 student nonvoting), moves the school out from Bureau of Indian Education management, and transfers its assets, personnel, and liabilities to the new University. It sets up a President as CEO, allows a University personnel system outside Title 5, establishes an endowment trust with federal matching contributions, authorizes recurring federal funding (including a $27 million annual floor), and permits admissions and hiring preferences for enrolled members of Indian Tribes. Also requires planning and reporting (facility master plan and annual reports), creates an Endowment Board to manage investments, preserves certain employment protections for legacy staff, and gives the Board broad corporate powers (property, contracting, insurance, litigation) while subjecting the University to federal tort and criminal rules for U.S. property and funds.