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S 521 118th Congress Senate Native Americans Federal-Indian relations Indian lands and resources rights North Carolina

Lumbee Fairness Act

Introduced: February 16, 2023 Introduced by: Tillis, Thomas Republican · North Carolina See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 16, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Feb 16, 2023
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now February 16, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 521: Lumbee Fairness Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-521/
MLA
"S. 521: Lumbee Fairness Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-521/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 521, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-521/.
Markdown link
[S. 521: Lumbee Fairness Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-521/)
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