# Plain Language Summary: Lumbee Recognition Act

This bill officially recognizes the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina as a federally recognized Indian tribe. Right now, the Lumbee people have a unique status—they're recognized by North Carolina but not by the federal government, which means they don't get access to many programs and services that other Native American tribes receive. This bill changes that by giving them full federal recognition, which opens the door to healthcare, education, housing assistance, and other federal benefits designed for Native American communities.

Once the Lumbee Tribe gains federal recognition, its members become eligible for all the services and support that the federal government provides to other recognized tribes. The bill specifically identifies four counties in North Carolina—Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke, and Scotland—where Lumbee members living there will be treated as if they're living on or near a reservation for purposes of receiving these federal services. The federal government will have two years to verify the tribe's membership roll (the official list of who belongs to the tribe) based on the tribe's constitution adopted in 2001, and then the government will work with the tribe to figure out exactly what services and resources they need.

The bill also allows the federal government to take land into trust for the Lumbee Tribe, which is important because it gives the tribe more control over its territory and can help with economic development and community projects. However, there's an important limitation: North Carolina state courts will still have jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases on Lumbee lands, unlike some other tribes that have more legal independence. The state could potentially transfer some of this authority to the federal government or the tribe itself, but any such transfer wouldn't take effect for at least two years.

Lumbee Recognition Act

Butterfield, G. K.

Lumbee Recognition 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.