S. 2160 — Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Restoration Act of 2025

This section states 20 congressional findings concerning the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians (the Tribe), including (1) their composition from 19 bands that are descendants of and political successors to signatories of the 1821 Treaty of Chicago (7 Stat. 218), 1836 Treaty of Washington (7 Stat. 491), and 1855 Treaty of Detroit (11 Stat. 621); (2) historical parallels to federally recognized Michigan Ottawa tribes under Public Law 103-324 (108 Stat. 2156); (3) Michigan's acknowledgment of the Tribe as a historic entity; (4) the Tribe's fulfillment of section 110 eligibility under the Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act (Public Law 105-143; 111 Stat. 2663) via a fully documented petition filed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on December 8, 2000; (5) BIA delays in processing the petition since 2000, preventing recognition and causing reserved judgment funds to revert to the Treasury; and (6) the Tribe's continuous political existence, including attempted reorganization under the Indian Reorganization Act (25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) in 1935 and participation in the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association land claim from 1948 to 1975.

This section defines key terms for purposes of the Act, including "member" as an individual enrolled in the Tribe pursuant to section 7, "Secretary" as the Secretary of the Interior, and "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 (25 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.)—except as otherwise provided in this Act.

This section establishes eligibility for the Tribe and its members for all federal services and benefits provided to Indians and federally recognized Indian tribes under applicable law, without regard to the existence of a tribal reservation or the location of any member's residence on or near a reservation. The section designates Newaygo, Oceana, Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties, 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 preserves the Tribe's legal or equitable claims to enforce any right or privilege reserved by or granted to the Tribe that was wrongfully denied or taken prior to enactment (except as otherwise provided in the Act).

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 individual'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 requires the Secretary of the Interior to (1) acquire trust title to land within Muskegon, Newaygo, or Oceana Counties, Michigan, for the benefit of the Tribe; 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 the Indian Reorganization Act land acquisition authority (25 U.S.C. 5108); 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 trust determination within 18 months of a tribal request under subsection (a)(1) and declares any land taken into trust pursuant to the section to be part of the Tribe's reservation upon tribal request.