S. 1508Senate bill · 119th CongressIn progressNative Americans

Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

Sponsored byJohn R. CurtisR-UTIntroduced Apr 29, 2025Full text on congress.gov ↗

Latest action (Dec 17, 2025) — Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

What it does

Congressional Research Service, Apr 29, 2025

This bill confers legal jurisdiction to the State of Utah over certain civil cases involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes. It also allows the tribe to lease its land held in trust. The tribe is located in southwestern Utah.

Specifically, the bill confers jurisdiction to the State of Utah over any civil cause of action (1) to which the Shivwits Band of Paiutes is a party, and (2) that arises on or within Indian lands. Under the bill, Indian lands are lands of the tribe that are (1) held in trust for the benefit of the tribe, or (2) subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer).

Additionally, the bill specifies that any cause of action arising from any contract or agreement (including a lease) to which the tribe is party or that affects or arises on these Indian lands shall be deemed a civil cause of action. Therefore, this bill allows the tribe and third parties to resolve contract disputes in state court.

The bill also authorizes the tribe to lease its land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years.

Face Value

as introduced
92Narrow

How much of this bill its name accounts for.

  • Every bill starts at100
  • Areas of law−8

    Amends 2 titles of the US Code (9 and 28) rather than one.

Face Value measures reach, not honesty. A big bill can be accurately named, and a low score is not an accusation — it means the contents reach further than any short title could describe. Count it yourself ↗ How this is worked out

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