Summary of S. 3859: Amending the Catawba Indian Tribe Land Claims Settlement Act

Overview

This bill, introduced in the Senate on February 12, 2026, seeks to amend the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993. The main purpose is to modify the requirements for future membership in the Catawba Indian Nation.

Key Provisions

• Membership Changes: The bill would strike the existing requirement that an individual must be a lineal descendant of a person on the final base membership roll and have continued to maintain political relations with the Tribe in order to be enrolled as a tribal member.

• Companion Bill: This bill (S. 3859) has a companion bill in the House, H.R. 4463, which was introduced concurrently.

Potential Impact

• Tribal Membership: The changes in this bill would potentially allow more individuals to qualify for enrollment in the Catawba Indian Nation, by removing the requirements around lineage and continued political relations.

• Tribal Sovereignty: This amendment to the 1993 settlement act could impact the Catawba Indian Nation's ability to self-govern and determine its own membership criteria.

Procedural Details

• Status: The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
• Timeline: No further action has been taken on the bill since its introduction on February 12, 2026.

Overall, this bill represents an effort to modify the membership requirements for the Catawba Indian Nation, which could have significant implications for the tribe's sovereignty and future composition.