Bill · S. 3859· Senate(119-S-3859)
A bill to amend the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993 with respect to future membership in the Catawba Indian Nation.
- Introduced
- 2/12/2026
- Last activity
- 9/23/2026 — Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
- Sponsored by
- Lindsey Graham
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is about changing the rules for who can become a future member of the Catawba Indian Nation. It was introduced in the Senate on February 12, 2026. The legislation specifically targets the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993. It removes a specific requirement currently needed for tribal enrollment. Right now, the law says an individual must be a lineal descendant of a person on the final base membership roll and must have continued to maintain political relations with the Tribe. The new bill simply strikes that exact requirement from the older law.
Yes
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+6
The bill eases the criteria for future enrollment in the Catawba Indian Nation by striking the requirement for lineal descent from the final base membership roll.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+5
The bill removes restrictive lineal descendant requirements for Catawba Indian Nation membership, potentially allowing more individuals of Catawba descent to access tribal recognition.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-2
The bill alters federal statutory requirements regarding tribal membership rules, which shifts the scope of tribal sovereignty established by previous federal law.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Removal of Membership Restrictions: Section 1 of the bill removes the specific requirement that a person must be a lineal descendant of someone on the final base membership roll and must have maintained political relations with the Tribe to be enrolled as a tribal member. This might be seen as positive because it could make it easier for certain individuals to join the Tribe without meeting those specific past hurdles.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Loss of Traditional Membership Standards: Section 1 of the bill takes out the rule requiring future members to be lineal descendants of the final base membership roll and to have maintained political relations with the Tribe. This could be viewed as negative by those who feel these specific requirements are important for protecting the heritage and established standards of the Tribe's membership.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights-2
- 9/23/2026
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
- 3/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tim ScottRepublican · South Carolina
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina