AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES (Provides a procedure for a Native American tribe to petition the state for recognition.)

S2509

2026 -- S 2509
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LC004555
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RECOGNITION OF NATIVE
AMERICAN TRIBES

Introduced By:
Senators Quezada, Thompson, Kallman, Acosta, Valverde, Mack,
Raptakis, Appollonio, Euer, and Famiglietti

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND
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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 169
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RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES
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42-169-1. Petition for recognition.
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A Native American tribe may petition the state for recognition by providing the house of
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representatives with the following documentation:
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(1) A statement of facts establishing that the tribe has been identified from historical times
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until the present on a substantially continuous basis as "American Indian" or "aboriginal";
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(2) Evidence that a substantial portion of the group inhabits a specific area or lives in a
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community viewed as American Indian and that its members are descendants of an Indian tribe
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which historically inhabited a specific area;
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(3) Evidence that the tribe has maintained tribal political authority or influence over its
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members as an autonomous entity throughout history until the present;
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(4) A copy of the tribe's governing document, including membership criteria, or, if it does
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not have a formal governing document, a description of its membership criteria and governing
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procedures;
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(5) An official membership list, any available former lists, and evidence that current

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members descend from a historic tribe or tribes that combined into a single autonomous political
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entity;
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(6) Evidence that the tribe consists mainly of people who are not members of an
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acknowledged North American Indian tribe; and
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(7) A statement that the tribe is not the subject of the congressional legislation that has
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terminated or forbidden the federal trust relationship (pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution
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108 (HCR 108) of 1953).
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42-169-2. Legislative power.
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The general assembly is granted the authority to forward a petition for state recognition to
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the governor for enactment through legislation; provided, however, the general assembly has the
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authority to impose restrictions on the following activities:
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(1) Gaming licensure and/or permission to establish a casino;
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(2) Creation of a state reservation or relinquishment of government land; and
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(3) Approval for state sales tax-free economic development ventures.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RECOGNITION OF NATIVE
AMERICAN TRIBES
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This act would provide a procedure for a Native American tribe to petition the state for
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recognition.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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