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HB 224

Prohibiting foreign adversary property ownership.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Allemand and 20 co-sponsors

The bill renames the Gaming Education Revenue Fund and directs annual funding to the NC State Commission of Indian Affairs, seven tribes, and four Urban Indian Organizations for cu

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Bill Summary · HB 224

Summary — HB 224: Strengthen Our Tribal Communities Act (North Carolina, 2025)

Status & Key Dates
- Introduced / First read: Feb 26–27, 2025.
- Effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025.
- Procedural note: Posted as the House “First Edition” and referred to Appropriations; some docket activity shows later procedural movement (see legislative history).

Purpose and intent
- Rename the State’s gaming education revenue fund and redirect specific appropriations from that fund to strengthen support for the North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs, state‑recognized non‑gaming tribes, and Urban Indian Organizations. The bill aims to provide recurring and one‑time funding for tribal cultural, educational, economic development, and Commission operating needs.

What the bill does — main provisions
1. Rename the fund
- Changes the name of the existing North Carolina Gaming Education Revenue Fund to the “Indian Gaming Education Revenue Fund.”

  1. Clarify allocation authority and usage

    • Subsection (b): Continues the existing pathway — upon appropriation, funds in the renamed Fund may be allocated quarterly by the State Board of Education to local school administrative units, charter schools, and regional schools based on average daily membership; those school allocations are nonreverting and limited to classroom education.
    • Subsection (c): Provides an alternate appropriation path — upon appropriation, funds in the renamed Fund may instead be allocated quarterly to:
      • North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs (for operating expenses and programs),
      • The seven state‑recognized non‑gaming tribes (for cultural, educational, and economic development), and
      • The four Urban Indian Organizations that are members of the State Commission of Indian Affairs (for cultural, educational, and economic development).

  2. Specified appropriations (2025–2027 biennium)

    • Recurring:
      • $2,000,000/year to the NC State Commission of Indian Affairs (Department of Administration).
      • $5,250,000/year to the Office of State Budget & Management for directed recurring grants to the seven non‑gaming tribes (divided equally among them; $5,250,000 ÷ 7 = $750,000 per tribe per year).
      • $400,000/year to OBM for directed recurring grants to four Urban Indian Organizations (divided equally; $400,000 ÷ 4 = $100,000 each per year).
      • $100,000/year to support the State Advisory Council on Indian Education.
    • One‑time (nonrecurring) FY 2025–26:
      • $1,100,000 total for directed grants: $500,000 to Haliwa‑Saponi Tribal School, $500,000 to Old Main STREAM Academy, $100,000 to Waccamaw‑Siouan Daycare.

Who is affected
- Beneficiaries:
- North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs.
- Seven non‑gaming tribes recognized in Chapter 71A: Coharie; Haliwa‑Saponi; Lumbee; Meherrin; Waccamaw‑Siouan; Sappony; Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation.
- Four Urban Indian Organizations: Cumberland County Association for Indian People; Guilford Native Americans Association; Metrolina Native Americans Association; Triangle Native American Society.
- State Advisory Council on Indian Education.
- Local school systems and charter/regional schools (potentially affected depending on whether the General Assembly directs funds to schools or to the Commission/tribes under subsection (c)).

Fiscal and implementation notes
- Funding source: the renamed Indian Gaming Education Revenue Fund (gaming revenue). The bill prescribes specific recurring and nonrecurring appropriations from that fund for FY2025–26 and the 2025–2027 biennium.
- Allocation depends on the General Assembly’s appropriation choices; funds may continue to be directed to schools (as before) or newly directed to tribal entities and the Commission per this bill.
- The bill establishes recurring commitments (multi‑year appropriations) that would reduce available balances in the Fund for other uses if revenue does not increase.

Potential impacts to highlight
- Provides predictable recurring funding to tribal governments and organizations for cultural, educational, and economic development and strengthens the Commission’s operating budget.
- May reduce the portion of gaming education fund money otherwise available to local school units if the General Assembly elects to appropriate the specified amounts to tribes/Commission instead of schools.
- Creates a new, explicit statutory mechanism for quarterly allocation to tribal entities via appropriation.

(For full statutory language, appropriations detail, and current legislative status consult the bill text and the North Carolina General Assembly docket.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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