Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
S2507 2026 -- S 2507 ======== LC004554 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Thompson, Kallman, Acosta, Valverde, Mack, Raptakis, Appollonio, Euer, and Famiglietti Date Introduced: February 06, 2026 Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled STATE AFFAIRS AND 2 GOVERNMENT is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 3 CHAPTER 169 4 RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES 5 42-169-1. Seaconke Wampanoag tribe. 6 (a) The State of Rhode Island officially recognizes the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe as a 7 Native American Indian tribe for the limited purpose of assisting this tribe in establishing eligibility 8 for federal education, job training, and housing benefits and federal protection for the sale of 9 artwork; qualifying for public and private grants for which Indian tribes or groups, or members 10 thereof, may be eligible; protecting the ability of this tribe and their members to engage in 11 traditional religious practices and ceremonies; preserving and protecting burial sites and artifacts; 12 and ensuring that handicrafts made by tribal members may be sold as Indian made. 13 (b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed or interpreted as conferring recognition for 14 any purpose except as expressly stated in subsection (a) of this section, or as evidence that a tribe 15 has a state compact or state approval for the purposes of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 16 25 U.S.C. ch. 29 § 2701 et seq. The limited state recognition accorded to this tribe named in 17 subsection (a) of this section, shall not be construed to affect in any way a tribe s or group s case 18 for federal recognition, shall not confer the right of any tribe, group or individual to conduct 1 gambling of any kind or to engage in the sale of motor fuels or tobacco and shall not constitute an 2 acknowledgement of any claim by any tribe, group, or individual to any ancestral, tribal or other 3 public or private lands. 4 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004554 ======== LC004554 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES *** 1 This act would recognize the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe as a Native American Indian 2 tribe for the limited purpose of assisting this tribe in establishing eligibility for federal benefits and 3 privileges. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004554 ======== LC004554 - Page 3 of 3
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