H.R. 3255 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Natural Resources, May 7, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRestores federal recognition for Ottawa Indian tribe
This bill officially recognizes the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan as a federally recognized tribe. The tribe and its members would become eligible for services and benefits that the federal government provides to other recognized tribes, and the Interior Department would be able to acquire land in five Michigan counties to benefit the tribe.
How it affects you
Members of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians would gain access to federal services, healthcare, education, and other benefits available to federally recognized tribes. For others in the five affected Michigan counties, this mainly affects how federal land may be managed in those areas, though the summary doesn't detail broader community impacts.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, May 7, 2025)
Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025
This bill affirms federal recognition of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan.
Specifically, the bill makes the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes, without regard to the existence of a reservation for the tribe or the location of the residence of any member on or near a reservation. The service area of the tribe shall be Newaygo, Oceana, Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa Counties in Michigan.
Further, the tribe must submit a membership roll to the Department of the Interior as a condition of receiving recognition, services, and benefits. The tribe must maintain the membership roll.
The bill directs Interior to (1) acquire, for the benefit of the tribe, trust title to land within Muskegon, Newaygo, or Oceana Counties; and (2) accept into trust any real property located in those counties for the benefit of the tribe if the property is conveyed to Interior and, at the time of such acceptance, there are no adverse legal claims on such property (e.g., outstanding liens, mortgages, or taxes owed).
Additionally, the bill allows Interior to (1) acquire additional land for the benefit of the tribe, and (2) take into trust land in specified counties for the benefit of the tribe.
Any land taken into trust for the benefit of the tribe shall, upon request of the tribe, be considered part of the tribe's reservation.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3255
A BILL
Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI-3) · Introduced May 7, 2025 · Native Americans · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 7, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.”