Sponsors (2)
The bill grants federal recognition, services, and strengthened legal protections to a tribal community—boosting tribal sovereignty, cultural preservation, and land control—while imposing federal and local fiscal costs, limiting certain tribal economic options (notably gaming), and locking in administrative choices (membership rolls and governance) that could exclude people or trigger legal and administrative disputes.
Members of the Tribe gain formal federal recognition and become eligible for federal services, benefits, and legal protections starting at enactment.
The Act preserves and in places strengthens tribal self-governance by protecting tribal authority (e.g., ICWA application), recognizing tribal governing documents, and enabling tribal control over leadership selection.
The Tribe can increase land sovereignty (convert fee land to trust and expand reservation boundaries), giving the Tribe more control over land use and improving delivery of services in a defined service area.
Federal taxpayers may face increased costs because the federal government will provide services, benefits, and potentially take on responsibilities for the newly recognized Tribe.
Local governments and non‑tribal property owners could lose property tax revenue and experience changes in jurisdiction and land-use authority if fee land is placed into trust and becomes reservation land.
The ban on tribal gaming removes a potential source of tribal revenue, jobs, and economic development, and also constrains tribal economic self-determination.
Based on analysis of 18 sections of legislative text.
Grants federal recognition to the Nottoway Tribe, makes members eligible for federal services, directs taking certain tribal lands into trust, and bars the Tribe from conducting gaming.
Introduced September 11, 2025 by Jennifer McClellan · Last progress September 11, 2025
Grants federal recognition to the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, making the Tribe and its enrolled members eligible for federal services and benefits available to federally recognized tribes. It defines membership and governing authority, designates a multi-county service area in Virginia, requires the Secretary of the Interior to take certain tribal fee lands into trust, and expressly bars the Tribe from conducting gaming under federal law or inherent authority. The Act also preserves existing hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, and water rights for the Tribe and maintains the continued application of a specific provision of the Indian Child Welfare Act.