Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

House Bill

H.R. 3073

119th Congress

Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

In Committee

Introduced:Mar 17, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Celeste Maloy

R - UT

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Native Americans

Summary

This bill gives Utah state courts the authority to handle civil lawsuits involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and their tribal lands, including contract disputes with businesses or individuals. It also allows the tribe to sign long-term land leases of up to 99 years, giving them more flexibility to develop their trust lands for economic purposes.

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Introduced3/17/2026

StatusReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

This bill gives Utah state courts the authority to handle civil lawsuits involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and their tribal lands, including contract disputes with businesses or individuals. It also allows the tribe to sign long-term land leases of up to

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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0 predictions

This bill gives Utah state courts the authority to handle civil lawsuits involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and their tribal lands, including contract disputes with businesses or individuals. It also allows the tribe to sign long-term land leases of up to 99 years, giving them more flexibility to develop their trust lands for economic purposes.

Bill Number: 3073
Introduced: 3/17/2026
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Policy Area: Native Americans

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act
Bill Number: 3073
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Introduced: 3/17/2026
Summary: This bill gives Utah state courts the authority to handle civil lawsuits involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and their tribal lands, including contract disputes with businesses or individuals. It also allows the tribe to sign long-term land leases of up to 99 years, giving them more flexibility t

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill gives Utah state courts the authority to handle civil lawsuits involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes and their tribal lands, including contract disputes with businesses or individuals. It also allows the tribe to sign long-term land leases of up to 99 years, giving them more flexibility to develop their trust lands for economic purposes.

Last updated: 2/24/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity ActThis bill confers legal jurisdiction to the State of Utah over certain civil cases involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes. It also allows the tribe to lease its land held in trust. The tribe is located in southwestern Utah.Specifically, the bill confers jurisdiction to the State of Utah over any civil cause of action (1) to which the Shivwits Band of Paiutes is a party, and (2) that arises on or within Indian lands. Under the bill, Indian lands are lands of the tribe that are (1) held in trust for the benefit of the tribe, or (2) subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer).Additionally, the bill specifies that any cause of action arising from any contract or agreement (including a lease) to which the tribe is party or that affects or arises on these Indian lands shall be deemed a civil cause of action. Therefore, this bill allows the tribe and third parties to resolve contract disputes in state court.The bill also authorizes the tribe to lease its land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Utah state courts would gain jurisdiction over civil cases involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes on their tribal lands, rather than these cases being handled in federal or tribal courts
Contract disputes between the tribe and outside parties—such as business agreements or leases—could be resolved in Utah's state court system
The tribe would be authorized to lease their federally-held trust lands for up to 99 years, enabling longer-term economic development projects like commercial facilities or housing
This represents a shift in legal authority that could make it easier for the tribe to attract business partners and investors who prefer the predictability of state courts

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill primarily affects the Shivwits Band of Paiutes in southwestern Utah and any businesses or individuals who enter into contracts with the tribe. By creating a clearer legal framework through state courts and enabling long-term leases, it could make it easier for the tribe to pursue economic development opportunities while providing outside parties with a familiar legal venue for dispute resolution. The change may increase business activity on tribal lands but also shifts some legal matters away from federal and tribal court systems.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Native Americans

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3073, 119th Congress (2026). "Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-3073