North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H600 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 600
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH30252-LG-135A
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Recognition of the Tuscarora. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Goodwin, Stevens, Cunningham, and Penny (Primary
9		-	Sponsors).
10		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
11		-	Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
12		-	April 1, 2025
13		-	H600 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Goodwin.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH30252 -LG-135A
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO RESTORE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THE TUSCARORA AND TO 2
16	15		PROVIDE THEM REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 3
17	16		Whereas, the passage of Senate Bill 642 by the 1971 General Assembly created the 4
18	17		North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs, recognizing the existence within the State of 5
19	18		certain named Indian tribes and also acknowledged the fact that members of other Indian tribes 6
20	19		reside within the State; and 7
21	20		Whereas, the Tuscarora were recognized through treaties with the North Carolina 8
22	21		government, but were not among those tribes recognized in 1971; and 9
23	22		Whereas, the Tuscarora were a powerful tribe at the time of the English settlement of 10
24	23		the land that became North Carolina and Virginia and their prominent role in the early history of 11
25	24		both states is well documented; and 12
26	25		Whereas, the Tuscarora and the Cherokee are the only tribes to hold treaties with the 13
27	26		North Carolina government; and 14
28	27		Whereas, the King of the Tuscarora was the signatory of the 1712 General Articles of 15
29	28		Peace and the 1714 Sun and Moon Peace Treaty and these treaties helped establish a lasting and 16
30	29		prosperous peace between The Tuscarora and the government and citizens of North Carolina; 17
31	30		and 18
32	31		Whereas, the Tuscarora signed a stand-alone Treaty in 1717 with Governor Eden that 19
33	32		reserved 56,000 acres of historic Tuscarora territory in Bertie County exclusively for the 20
34	33		Tuscarora known as Indian Woods and in 1748 legislation reestablished the official boundaries 21
35	34		and drew a map of its proximities; and 22
36	35		Whereas, for two centuries, parcels of Indian Woods were allotted to descendants of 23
37	36		the Tuscarora Tribe and they have persisted as communities of Tuscarora People since that time 24
38	37		and have reorganized and incorporated into The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories and 25
39	38		appointed a tribal council to represent all North Carolina Tuscarora; and 26
40	39		Whereas, a review of historical documents and testimony confirmed the current Tribal 27
41	40		Council of The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories consists of descendants of the 28
42	41		historical Tuscarora Tribe; and 29
43	42		Whereas, the Tuscarora and its descendants contributed and continue to contribute to 30
44	43		the settlement and growth of the State of North Carolina, have maintained their ethnic 31
45	44		background, original language and culture and number among themselves families with names 32
46	45		well-known throughout the area and the State; Now, therefore 33
47		-	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 600-First Edition
49		-	SECTION 1. Chapter 71A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 1
50		-	section to read: 2
51		-	"§ 71A-7.3. The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories; rights, privileges, 3
52		-	immunities, obligations, and duties. 4
53		-	The Indians who comprise The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, whose ancestors 5
54		-	signed treaties with the government of North Carolina and were granted the Indian Woods 6
55		-	Reservation on the Roanoke River in Bertie County, shall, from and after July 1, 2025, be 7
56		-	designated and officially recognized as The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, and 8
57		-	they shall continue to enjoy all their rights, privileges, and immunities as an American Indian 9
58		-	Tribe with a recognized tribal governing body carrying out and exercising substantial 10
59		-	governmental duties and powers similar to the State. The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka shall 11
60		-	be recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to 12
61		-	Indians because of their status as Indians. The Tuscarora shall maintain individual enrollment 13
62		-	criteria, providing an opportunity for all North Carolina Tuscarora descendants to enroll and shall 14
63		-	govern themselves in a manner that will benefit and unify all Tuscarora that come under their 15
64		-	governance." 16
65		-	SECTION 2. G.S. 143B-407 reads as rewritten: 17
66		-	"§ 143B-407. North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs – membership; term of 18
67		-	office; chairman; compensation. 19
68		-	(a) The State Commission of Indian Affairs shall consist of two persons appointed by the 20
69		-	General Assembly, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Assistant Secretary of 21
70		-	Commerce in charge of the Division of Employment Security, the Secretary of Administration, 22
71		-	the Secretary of Environmental Quality, the Commissioner of Labor or their designees and 21 23 23
72		-	representatives of the Indian community. These Indian members shall be selected by tribal or 24
73		-	community consent from the Indian groups that are recognized by the State of North Carolina 25
74		-	and are principally geographically located as follows: the Coharie of Sampson and Harnett 26
75		-	Counties; the Eastern Band of Cherokees; the Haliwa Saponi of Halifax, Warren, and adjoining 27
76		-	counties; the Lumbees of Robeson, Hoke and Scotland Counties; the Meherrin of Hertford 28
77		-	County; the Waccamaw-Siouan from Columbus and Bladen Counties; the Sappony; the 29
78		-	Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation of Alamance and Orange Counties, The Tuscarora Indians 30
79		-	of Kahtenuaka Territories, and the Native Americans located in Cumberland, Guilford, Johnston, 31
80		-	Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake Counties. The Coharie shall have two members; the Eastern 32
81		-	Band of Cherokees, two; the Haliwa Saponi, two; the Lumbees, three; the Meherrin, one; the 33
82		-	Waccamaw-Siouan, two; the Sappony, one; the Cumberland County Association for Indian 34
83		-	People, two; the Guilford Native Americans, two; the Metrolina Native Americans, two; the 35
84		-	Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, one, one; the Triangle Native American Society, one. 36
85		-	one; The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, two. Of the two appointments made by 37
86		-	the General Assembly, one shall be made upon the recommendation of the Speaker, and one shall 38
87		-	be made upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Appointments by 39
88		-	the General Assembly shall be made in accordance with G.S. 120-121 and vacancies shall be 40
89		-	filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122. 41
90		-	…." 42
91		-	SECTION 3. G.S. 143B-135.5 reads as rewritten: 43
92		-	"Part 30A. American Indian Heritage Commission. 44
93		-	"§ 143B-135.5. American Indian Heritage Commission established. 45
94		-	… 46
95		-	(b) Members. – The Commission shall consist of 12 13 members. The initial board shall 47
96		-	be selected on or before February 1, 2022, as follows: 48
97		-	(1) One representative recommended by each of the following tribes: Coharie, 49
98		-	Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	House Bill 600-First Edition Page 3
100		-	Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, The Tuscarora Indians of 1
101		-	Kahtenauaka Territories, and Waccamaw-Siouan. 2
102		-	(2) One representative recommended by each of the following organizations: 3
103		-	Cumberland County Association for Indian People, Guilford Native American 4
104		-	Association, Metrolina Native American Association, and the Triangle Native 5
105		-	American Society. 6
106		-	(c) Terms. – The members recommended by the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee 7
107		-	Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, and Lumbee Tribes and the members recommended by the Cumberland 8
108		-	County Association for Indian People and the Guilford Native American Association shall serve 9
109		-	initial terms of two years expiring on June 30, 2023. The members recommended by the 10
110		-	Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, and Waccamaw-Siouan Tribes and 11
111		-	the members recommended by the Metrolina Native American Association and the Triangle 12
112		-	Native American Society shall serve initial terms of three years expiring on June 30, 2024. The 13
113		-	member recommended by The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenauaka Territories shall serve an initial 14
114		-	term of two years expiring on June 30, 2027. Upon the expiration of the terms of the initial 15
115		-	members of the Commission, each member shall be appointed to terms for three years and shall 16
116		-	serve until a successor is appointed. 17
117		-	…." 18
118		-	SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law. 19
	46	+	The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 34
	47	+	SECTION 1. Chapter 71A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 35
	48	+	section to read: 36
	49	+	H.B. 600
	50	+	Mar 31, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH30252-LG-135A
	53	+	"§ 71A-7.3. The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories; rights, privileges, 1
	54	+	immunities, obligations, and duties. 2
	55	+	The Indians who comprise The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, whose ancestors 3
	56	+	signed treaties with the government of North Carolina and were granted the Indian Woods 4
	57	+	Reservation on the Roanoke River in Bertie County, shall, from and after July 1, 2025, be 5
	58	+	designated and officially recognized as The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, and 6
	59	+	they shall continue to enjoy all their rights, privileges, and immunities as an American Indian 7
	60	+	Tribe with a recognized tribal governing body carrying out and exercising substantial 8
	61	+	governmental duties and powers similar to the State. The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka shall 9
	62	+	be recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to 10
	63	+	Indians because of their status as Indians. The Tuscarora shall maintain individual enrollment 11
	64	+	criteria, providing an opportunity for all North Carolina Tuscarora descendants to enroll and shall 12
	65	+	govern themselves in a manner that will benefit and unify all Tuscarora that come under their 13
	66	+	governance." 14
	67	+	SECTION 2. G.S. 143B-407 reads as rewritten: 15
	68	+	"§ 143B-407. North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs – membership; term of 16
	69	+	office; chairman; compensation. 17
	70	+	(a) The State Commission of Indian Affairs shall consist of two persons appointed by the 18
	71	+	General Assembly, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Assistant Secretary of 19
	72	+	Commerce in charge of the Division of Employment Security, the Secretary of Administration, 20
	73	+	the Secretary of Environmental Quality, the Commissioner of Labor or their designees and 21 23 21
	74	+	representatives of the Indian community. These Indian members shall be selected by tribal or 22
	75	+	community consent from the Indian groups that are recognized by the State of North Carolina 23
	76	+	and are principally geographically located as follows: the Coharie of Sampson and Harnett 24
	77	+	Counties; the Eastern Band of Cherokees; the Haliwa Saponi of Halifax, Warren, and adjoining 25
	78	+	counties; the Lumbees of Robeson, Hoke and Scotland Counties; the Meherrin of Hertford 26
	79	+	County; the Waccamaw-Siouan from Columbus and Bladen Counties; the Sappony; the 27
	80	+	Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation of Alamance and Orange Counties, The Tuscarora Indians 28
	81	+	of Kahtenuaka Territories, and the Native Americans located in Cumberland, Guilford, Johnston, 29
	82	+	Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake Counties. The Coharie shall have two members; the Eastern 30
	83	+	Band of Cherokees, two; the Haliwa Saponi, two; the Lumbees, three; the Meherrin, one; the 31
	84	+	Waccamaw-Siouan, two; the Sappony, one; the Cumberland County Association for Indian 32
	85	+	People, two; the Guilford Native Americans, two; the Metrolina Native Americans, two; the 33
	86	+	Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, one, one; the Triangle Native American Society, one. 34
	87	+	one; The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, two. Of the two appointments made by 35
	88	+	the General Assembly, one shall be made upon the recommendation of the Speaker, and one shall 36
	89	+	be made upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Appointments by 37
	90	+	the General Assembly shall be made in accordance with G.S. 120-121 and vacancies shall be 38
	91	+	filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122. 39
	92	+	…." 40
	93	+	SECTION 3. G.S. 143B-135.5 reads as rewritten: 41
	94	+	"Part 30A. American Indian Heritage Commission. 42
	95	+	"§ 143B-135.5. American Indian Heritage Commission established. 43
	96	+	… 44
	97	+	(b) Members. – The Commission shall consist of 12 13 members. The initial board shall 45
	98	+	be selected on or before February 1, 2022, as follows: 46
	99	+	(1) One representative recommended by each of the following tribes: Coharie, 47
	100	+	Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, 48
	101	+	Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, The Tuscarora Indians of 49
	102	+	Kahtenauaka Territories, and Waccamaw-Siouan. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	103	+	DRH30252-LG-135A Page 3
	104	+	(2) One representative recommended by each of the following organizations: 1
	105	+	Cumberland County Association for Indian People, Guilford Native American 2
	106	+	Association, Metrolina Native American Association, and the Triangle Native 3
	107	+	American Society. 4
	108	+	(c) Terms. – The members recommended by the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee 5
	109	+	Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, and Lumbee Tribes and the members recommended by the Cumberland 6
	110	+	County Association for Indian People and the Guilford Native American Association shall serve 7
	111	+	initial terms of two years expiring on June 30, 2023. The members recommended by the 8
	112	+	Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, and Waccamaw-Siouan Tribes and 9
	113	+	the members recommended by the Metrolina Native American Association and the Triangle 10
	114	+	Native American Society shall serve initial terms of three years expiring on June 30, 2024. The 11
	115	+	member recommended by The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenauaka Territories shall serve an initial 12
	116	+	term of two years expiring on June 30, 2027. Upon the expiration of the terms of the initial 13
	117	+	members of the Commission, each member shall be appointed to terms for three years and shall 14
	118	+	serve until a successor is appointed. 15
	119	+	…." 16
	120	+	SECTION 4. This act is effective when it becomes law. 17