S 621 · 119th Congress

A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that Community, and for other purposes.

tribal governanceNative American rightsfederal-tribal relationsMinnesota
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Last action 2025-12-15

Sponsored by Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D) — MN

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Would revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota — a charter originally ratified in 1937 under the Indian Reorganization Act — at the Community's own request.

What this bill would do

What it would do

The bill would accept the Lower Sioux Indian Community's request to surrender its federal charter of incorporation, which was issued pursuant to Section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act and ratified on July 17, 1937. By accepting the surrender, Congress would formally revoke that charter. The action is entirely at the Community's initiative — the bill does not impose the revocation but rather fulfills the tribe's own request to relinquish the federally granted corporate status.

Key provisions

  1. 1Would accept the Lower Sioux Indian Community's surrender and formally revoke its federal charter of incorporation, ratified July 17, 1937, under the Indian Reorganization Act.Sec. 1

Who would be affected

The Lower Sioux Indian Community, a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Minnesota, is the sole entity directly affected. The bill acts on that community's own petition and has no broader application to other tribes or Indian communities.

Why it matters

For the Lower Sioux Indian Community, revocation of the charter would end the federally conferred corporate status the tribe has held since 1937. The practical effect on the tribe's governance structure and legal authorities depends on how the Community has used that charter, but the change is tribal-governance in nature and limited in scope to this one community.

What would change

Changes to existing law

Repeals Charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community (issued under Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. 5124) (Sec. 1)

Accepts the Community's surrender of its 1937 federal charter of incorporation and declares that charter revoked.

Funding and costs

Congressional Budget Office estimate

CBO estimates S. 621 would have no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit over the 2025–2035 period, with only negligible administrative costs subject to appropriation.

CBO estimates that S. 621, which would accept the Lower Sioux Indian Community's request to revoke its federal charter of incorporation, would result in zero change to direct spending (mandatory outlays), revenues, or the deficit in any scoring window through 2035 or beyond. Administrative costs to the Department of the Interior to implement the bill would not be significant and would be subject to the availability of appropriated (discretionary) funds; those costs are estimated at less than $500,000 in total. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.

View the full CBO cost estimate

Legislative status & sources

Latest action

Held at the desk.

2025-12-15

Official CRS summary

Show the CRS summary

This bill accepts the request of the Lower Sioux Indian Community (a federally recognized Indian tribe in Minnesota) to revoke the community's charter of incorporation.

From the Congressional Research Service.

Legislative subjects

Federal-Indian relations; Minnesota; Native Americans

Committee report

S. Rept. 119-77

Congressional Bill

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S 621: A bill to accept the request to revoke the charter of incorporation of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota at the request of that Community, and for other purposes. | Legislation Reporter