Sponsors (19)
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Al Green · Last progress April 10, 2025
The bill speeds and standardizes removal of offensive geographic names and strengthens tribal participation and public transparency, but does so at measurable cost and political/administrative friction for local governments, federal agencies, and communities attached to existing names.
Racial and ethnic minorities and Indigenous communities will see offensive slurs and derogatory place names on federal lands identified and removed, reducing public disparagement and advancing dignity.
Tribal governments and Indigenous communities gain a formal, statutory role and clearer standing to propose and influence renaming decisions on federal lands.
Federal land managers and the Board on Geographic Names get clearer legal authority, an objective definition of 'offensive place name', and an organized, time-limited process (with required staff support and deadlines) that should speed and standardize renaming compared with ad hoc approaches.
Local governments, small businesses, homeowners, and taxpayers will face tangible costs to replace signs, update maps and records, and cover administrative expenses for the renaming process.
Many residents and stakeholders may view removals as erasing history or identity, creating local controversy, social conflict, and the potential for legal challenges by descendants or opponents.
Narrowing the Board’s discretion and removing delay mechanisms could force implementation of controversial name changes and accelerate decisions before broader legislative or public deliberation is complete, reducing avenues for review.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a federal advisory committee to review and recommend replacing offensive geographic and federal land unit names and requires the Board to act on those proposals.
Creates a 17-member federal advisory committee to identify and propose replacement names for U.S. geographic features and federal land units that are racially or sexually derogatory, honor people who supported discriminatory policies or committed atrocities, or otherwise perpetuate stereotypes or offense. The committee must solicit proposals from Tribes, governments, agencies, and the public, and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names must accept or reject committee proposals within set deadlines and generally must approve them unless approval would violate federal law or there is a compelling public interest to reject. Sets definitions for “offensive place name,” requires the Secretary to establish the committee within 180 days, requires the Board to act on committee proposals within three years, provides staff support from the Secretary, and limits grounds the Board may use to reject committee recommendations. The committee’s work is time‑limited and includes public engagement and formal reporting to the Board and Congress for federal land unit renames.