Senate backs fund to help four Virginia tribes seek federal recognition

RICHMOND — The Virginia Senate on March 13 approved Senate Bill 31, a measure to create a tribal recognition support fund to help four Virginia tribes petition for federal recognition by covering petitioning costs such as professional historians and Indian law attorneys.

Senator Knox, the bill’s sponsor, said Virginia recognizes 11 Native American tribes but only seven are federally recognized; four lack federal status and face a costly, time‑consuming petition process. "Our solution to this problem is creating a tribal recognition support fund," the sponsor said, describing how the fund would pay for historians and Indian law attorneys to assemble petitions and documentation.

Senators asked about costs and contingency if petitions fail. The sponsor provided a five‑year estimate for historian and attorney services (roughly $303,100 to $400,000 over five years based on 50 hours per month at cited hourly rates) and said the Department of Conservation and Recreation would supervise the fund. The sponsor also said the fund would continue through a set period with additional fundraising, sponsorships and partnerships until recognition is achieved.

Questions included what would happen if petitions were unsuccessful and how the fund would be sustained over the decade‑plus timeline that federal recognition can require; the sponsor said funds would be governed and could be reimbursed to tribes that succeeded in their petitions.

After debate, the Senate recorded Ayes 19, No 8 and the presiding officer announced Senate Bill 31 passed.

Outcome: Senate Bill 31 passed; the bill directs state support for petitioning costs and establishes the fund’s supervision and preliminary five‑year cost expectations on the floor.