S. 105 · Where this bill is now
Became law through another bill
Its text was included in H.R. 165, Public Law 119-61 (per the Congressional Research Service). This bill number itself: In committee.
See H.R. 165 on Congress.gov ↗
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryHonors Wounded Knee with tribal sacred land
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to transfer about 40 acres of land in South Dakota to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The land would be placed in restricted fee status, meaning the tribes would own it but the U.S. government would prevent it from being sold, leased, or used as collateral. The bill requires the land to be maintained as a memorial and sacred site, and it bans commercial development and gaming activities there.
How it affects you
This is primarily a ceremonial and land transfer that doesn't directly affect most people's daily lives. For members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, it means gaining permanent control of land tied to their history and spiritual practices, protected from commercial use.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 15, 2025)
Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to complete all actions necessary to place approximately 40 acres of land in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota, into restricted fee status for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee status refers to land that is owned by a tribe or tribal member but is subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer) or encumbrance (e.g., liens, leases, or rights-of-way) by operation of law.
The bill requires the land to be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site, as outlined by the document titled Covenant Between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and dated October 21, 2022. Further, it prohibits commercial development and gaming activity on the land.
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 SessionS. 105
A BILL
Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) · Introduced Jan 15, 2025 · Native Americans · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Oct 2, 2025: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 176.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.