North Carolina 2025 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 11 R · 11 D · 2 I cosponsors

HB 600 — Recognition of the Tuscarora.

Last action — Reptd Fav Com Substitute

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 31, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 24 sponsors

    3 primary, 21 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 3 parties (11 R · 11 D · 2 I) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill recognizes the Tuscarora as a distinct Native American tribe.

This legislation formally acknowledges the Tuscarora tribe's status as a recognized Native American group. It aims to establish the tribe's rights and identity within the state's legal framework.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

96 added · 103 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of House Bill 600 now includes more specific language regarding the self-governance of the Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories. It emphasizes their right to maintain their own enrollment criteria, enhancing their ability to govern themselves and benefit their community. This recognition is important as it solidifies their status and access to federal programs and services designed for Indigenous tribes, which can lead to improved resources and support for their members.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 2 HOUSE BILL 600 Committee Substitute Favorable 7/1/26 Short Title:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 1 HOUSE BILL 600 Short Title:
Representatives Goodwin, Stevens, Cunningham, and Penny (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
April 1, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO RESTORE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THE TUSCARORA AND TO PROVIDE THEM REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 1, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO RESTORE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THE TUSCARORA AND TO PROVIDE THEM REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMISSION OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
and Whereas, the Tuscarora were a powerful tribe at the time of the English settlement of the land that became North Carolina and Virginia and their prominent role in the early history of both states is well-documented;
and Whereas, the Tuscarora were a powerful tribe at the time of the English settlement of the land that became North Carolina and Virginia and their prominent role in the early history of both states is well documented;
and Whereas, the King of the Tuscarora was the signatory of the 1712 General Articles of Peace and the 1714 Sun and Moon Peace Treaty and these treaties helped establish a lasting and prosperous peace between the Tuscarora and the government and citizens of North Carolina;
and Whereas, the King of the Tuscarora was the signatory of the 1712 General Articles of Peace and the 1714 Sun and Moon Peace Treaty and these treaties helped establish a lasting and prosperous peace between The Tuscarora and the government and citizens of North Carolina;
and Whereas, the Tuscarora signed a stand-alone Treaty in 1717 with Governor Eden that reserved 56,000 acres of historic Tuscarora territory in Bertie County exclusively for the Tuscarora known as Indian Woods and in 1748, legislation reestablished the official boundaries and drew a map of its proximities;
and Whereas, the Tuscarora signed a stand-alone Treaty in 1717 with Governor Eden that reserved 56,000 acres of historic Tuscarora territory in Bertie County exclusively for the Tuscarora known as Indian Woods and in 1748 legislation reestablished the official boundaries and drew a map of its proximities;
Now, therefore, The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Now, therefore The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.
*H600-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 SECTION 1.
*H600-v-2* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 "§ 71A-7.3.
"§ 71A-7.3.
The Indians whocompriseTheTuscarora IndiansofKahtenuakaTerritories, whoseancestors signed treaties with the government of North Carolina and were granted the Indian Woods Reservation on the Roanoke River in Bertie County, shall, from and after July 1, 2026, be designated and officially recognized as The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, and they shall continue to enjoy all their rights, privileges, and immunities as an American Indian Tribe with a recognized tribal governing body carrying out and exercising substantial governmental duties and powers similar to the State.
The Indians whocompriseTheTuscarora IndiansofKahtenuakaTerritories, whoseancestors signed treaties with the government of North Carolina and were granted the Indian Woods Reservation on the Roanoke River in Bertie County, shall, from and after July 1, 2025, be designated and officially recognized as The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, and they shall continue to enjoy all their rights, privileges, and immunities as an American Indian Tribe with a recognized tribal governing body carrying out and exercising substantial governmental duties and powers similar to the State.
The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories shall be recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka shall be recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
The Tuscarora shall maintain individual enrollment criteria, providing an opportunity for all North Carolina Tuscarora descendants to enroll and shall govern themselves in a manner that will benefit and unify all Tuscarora that come under their governance." SECTION 2.
The Tuscarora shall maintain individual enrollment criteria, providing an opportunityfor all North CarolinaTuscaroradescendants to enroll andshall govern themselves in a manner that will benefit and unify all Tuscarora that come under their governance." SECTION 2.
– The Commission shall consist of 12 members.
– The Commission shall consist of 12 13 members.
The initial board shall be selected on or before February 1, 2022, as follows:13 members, as follows:
The initial board shall be selected on or before February 1, 2022, as follows:
Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, and Waccamaw-Siouan.
Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Page 2 House Bill 600-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenauaka Territories, and Waccamaw-Siouan.
Page 2 House Bill 600-Second Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) One representative recommended by each of the following organizations:
(2) One representative recommended by each of the following organizations:
The member recommended by The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories shall serve an initial term of three years expiring on June 30, 2029.
The memberrecommended byTheTuscarora Indians ofKahtenauaka Territories shall serve aninitial term of two years expiring on June 30, 2027.
There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Administrationthesumoffivethousanddollars($5,000)innonrecurringfundstoassisttheNorth Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs with updating its website, materials, and other documentation to reflect the new membership of the Commission.
This act is effective when it becomes law.
SECTION 5.
House Bill 600-First Edition Page 3
There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in nonrecurring funds to assist the American Indian Heritage Commission with updating its website, materials, and other documentation to reflect the new membership of the Commission.
SECTION 6.
Sections 4 and 5 of this act become effective July 1, 2026.
The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
House Bill 600-Second Edition Page 3
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How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill officially recognizes the Tuscarora as a distinct tribe and grants them representation on the North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs and the American Indian Heritage Commission.

  • G.S. 143B-407

    the Native Americans located in Cumberland, Guilford, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake Counties. → The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, two.

    This change adds the Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories to the membership of the State Commission of Indian Affairs with two representative positions.

  • G.S. 143B-135.5

    the Waccamaw-Siouan. → The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories, and Waccamaw-Siouan.

    This change includes the Tuscarora as one of the tribes represented on the American Indian Heritage Commission.

  • G.S. 143B-135.5

    The member recommended by The Tuscarora Indians of Kahtenuaka Territories shall serve an initial term of three years expiring on June 30, 2029.

    This specifies the term for the representative of the Tuscarora on the American Indian Heritage Commission, distinguishing it from other tribes.

Action History

  1. Reptd Fav Com Substitute

  2. Re-ref Com On State and Local Government

  3. Withdrawn From Com

  4. Re-ref to the Com on Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  5. Passed 1st Reading

  6. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  7. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 21 co-sponsors · 155 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (21)

Not signed on (155)

155 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 600?
HB 600 is sponsored by Jeff Zenger (Republican), Donna McDowell White (Republican), Bill Ward (Republican), Mitchell S. Setzer (Republican), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Nasif Majeed (U), Frank Iler (Republican), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Julia Greenfield (Democratic), Jimmy Dixon (Republican), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Becky Carney (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Kanika Brown (Democratic), Hugh Blackwell (Republican), Mary Belk (Democratic), Amber M. Baker (Democratic), Howard Penny, Jr. (Republican), Carla D. Cunningham (U), Edward C. Goodwin (Republican), Charles Smith (Democratic), Sarah Stevens (Republican), and Carson Smith (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 600?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 31, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 600?
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