H.R. 3255 — Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings on the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians' (Tribe) history as descendants and political successors to signatories of the 1821 Treaty of Chicago, 1836 Treaty of Washington, and 1855 Treaty of Detroit; federal recognition of similar Michigan Ottawa tribes via Public Law 103-324 (1994); the Tribe's compliance with eligibility criteria under section 110 of the Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act (Public Law 105-143, 1997), including filing a documented petition with the Bureau of Indian Affairs on December 8, 2000; Bureau delays in processing that petition; continuous political existence and federal dealings since 1821; and denial of Indian Reorganization Act benefits due to lack of appropriations.

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act: (1) member as an individual enrolled in the Tribe pursuant to section 7 of the Act; (2) Secretary as the Secretary of the Interior; and (3) Tribe as the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians of Michigan.

This section affirms federal recognition of the Tribe. It applies to the Tribe and its members all federal laws (including regulations) of general application to Indians and Indian tribes—including the Indian Reorganization Act (i.e., authorizes tribes to organize governments and acquire lands in trust)—except as otherwise provided in this Act.

This section establishes eligibility for the Tribe and its members for all federal services and benefits provided by the United States to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes, without regard to the existence of a tribal reservation or the location of any member's residence on or near an Indian reservation. The section designates Newaygo, Oceana, Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties in Michigan as the Tribe's service area for the delivery of such services and benefits.

This section reaffirms that nothing in the Act diminishes any preexisting right or privilege of the Tribe or its members and, except as otherwise provided, does not alter or affect any legal or equitable claim of the Tribe to enforce a right or privilege reserved by or granted to the Tribe that was wrongfully denied or taken prior to enactment.

This section requires the Tribe, as a condition of receiving recognition, services, and benefits under this Act, to submit to the Secretary a membership roll consisting of each enrolled member's name not later than 18 months after enactment. Membership qualifications are determined in accordance with the Tribe's governing documents, and the Tribe must maintain the roll.

This section directs the Secretary of the Interior to (1) acquire trust title to land within Muskegon, Newaygo, or Oceana Counties, Michigan, for the benefit of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians; and (2) accept into trust any real property conveyed to the Secretary in those counties if free of adverse legal claims (e.g., liens, mortgages, or taxes). It further authorizes the Secretary to (1) acquire additional land for the tribe pursuant to section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act (25 U.S.C. 5108), which authorizes discretionary land acquisitions in trust for Indians; and (2) take into trust any land held in fee by the tribe within Kent or Ottawa Counties, Michigan. The section requires the Secretary to issue a final written determination on acquisition requests under clause (a)(1) within 18 months of submission and declares that any land taken into trust pursuant to this section is part of the tribe's reservation upon tribal request.