Lumbee Fairness Act

Senate Bill

S. 107

119th Congress

Lumbee Fairness Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 16, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Thomas Tillis

Senator

Republican

NC

Cosponsors

20

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Native Americans

Summary

This bill extends full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making its approximately 55,000 members eligible for federal services and benefits. Interior may take land into trust for the tribe. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction over tribal lands unless transferred to the federal government.

Latest Action

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

SponsorThomas Tillis (R-NC)

Introduced1/16/2025

StatusCommittee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Lumbee Fairness Act

This bill extends full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making its approximately 55,000 members eligible for federal services and benefits. Interior may take land into trust for the tribe. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jur

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This bill extends full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making its approximately 55,000 members eligible for federal services and benefits. Interior may take land into trust for the tribe. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction over tribal lands unless transferred to the federal government.

Bill Number: 107
Sponsor: Thomas Tillis (R-NC)
Introduced: 1/16/2025
Status: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Policy Area: Native Americans

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Lumbee Fairness Act
Bill Number: 107
Sponsor: Thomas Tillis (R-NC)
Status: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Introduced: 1/16/2025
Summary: This bill extends full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making its approximately 55,000 members eligible for federal services and benefits. Interior may take land into trust for the tribe. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction over tribal lands unless trans

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill extends full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, making its approximately 55,000 members eligible for federal services and benefits. Interior may take land into trust for the tribe. North Carolina retains criminal and civil jurisdiction over tribal lands unless transferred to the federal government.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Lumbee Fairness Act This bill extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and makes its members eligible for the services and benefits provided to members of federally recognized tribes. Members of the tribe residing in Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland Counties in North Carolina are deemed to be within the delivery area for such services. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services must develop, in consultation with the tribe, a determination of needs to provide the services for which members of the tribe are eligible. Interior may take land into trust for the benefit of the tribe. Finally, North Carolina must exercise jurisdiction over all criminal offenses committed, and all civil actions that arise, on North Carolina lands owned by, or held in trust for, the Lumbee Tribe or any dependent Indian community of the tribe unless jurisdiction is transferred to the United States pursuant to an agreement between the tribe and the state.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Extends federal recognition to Lumbee Tribe
Makes members eligible for federal Indian services
Authorizes land to be taken into trust
Covers members in four North Carolina counties
State retains jurisdiction over tribal lands

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

The Lumbee Tribe would become fully federally recognized after decades of seeking this status. Members would access Indian Health Service, education benefits, and other federal programs. The tribe could pursue economic development with federal trust land status.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Native Americans

Related Subjects

Federal-Indian relations

Indian lands and resources rights

North Carolina

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

107, 119th Congress (2025). "Lumbee Fairness Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-107

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