Congress restores Wounded Knee massacre site to Lakota tribes

What it does

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer approximately 40 acres at the Wounded Knee Massacre site in South Dakota to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in 'restricted fee' status—meaning the tribes own the land permanently, it cannot be sold without Congress's consent, it is exempt from state and local taxation, and the tribes have full civil and criminal jurisdiction over it. The land will be used as a memorial and sacred site under a covenant between the two tribes, and cannot be used for gaming.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to transfer federal/private land to tribal ownership in restricted status, enabling tribal sovereignty and memorialization of a historical massacre site. This is a straightforward exercise of federal trust responsibility and tribal self-determination.

What the text implies

• The bill exempts the tribes from Secretary of Interior approval for land use decisions going forward, a significant shift in federal-tribal governance that reduces federal oversight of tribal property management.
• The restriction on gaming activity is binding under the inter-tribal covenant, not federal law—if the covenant is amended by both tribes, gaming could theoretically become permissible, though the bill does not explicitly address amendment procedures.
• Existing private and municipal utility easements and rights-of-way remain in effect, potentially limiting the tribes' exclusive control over subsurface resources and access routes despite full ownership.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

This bill restores tribal sovereignty and property rights over a historically significant sacred site where a massacre of Lakota people occurred in 1890, enabling the tribes to control and memorialize the land without state interference or federal oversight of day-to-day use. The restriction on alienation and state taxation protects the tribes' long-term stewardship and honors a historical injustice.

Named in the bill

Oglala Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Secretary of the Interior, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Wounded Knee Massacre site, Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

Where it stands

• Jan 3, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jan 3, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Indian Affairs · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
• Jan 21, 2025 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill”
• Jan 22, 2025 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0…”
• Mar 5, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably”
• Dec 11, 2025 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8685)”
• Dec 18, 2025 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”
• Dec 19, 2025 — Signed into law · Congress.gov: “Became Public Law No: 119-61”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.