HR9416
Hearing scheduled
Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act
- Federal
- House
- Introduced Jun 24, 2026
- Session 119
Bill Text
Version IHThis Act may be cited as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act.
In this Act:
The term Indian tribe means an Indian tribe, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), that has a cultural affiliation, as defined in section 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001), to the Ocmulgee Mounds region, to be determined by the Secretary after appropriate tribal consultation.
The term Map means map titled Ocmulgee Mounds National Park, numbered 363/193026, and dated May 2026.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
The term State means the State of Georgia.
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park designated by section 2102(b)(1)(A) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 410yyy–3(b)(1)(A)) shall be known and designated as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park shall be considered to be a reference to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
The Secretary may make technical corrections to the Map.
The Map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park shall be administered as a unit of the National Park System in accordance with this section and the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—
section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United States Code; and
chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
The Secretary shall allow fishing on waters under the jurisdiction of the Secretary within the boundaries of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws.
The Secretary may designate zones in which, and establish periods during which, no fishing shall be allowed for reasons of public safety, administration, fish or wildlife management, or emergencies.
The Secretary shall ensure any regulations prescribing restrictions under this subsection shall be put into effect only after consultation with the State.
Nothing in this subsection prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping on private land in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to enlarge or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the State to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife on lands and waters, including Federal lands and waters, within the State.
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law, seek to increase employment opportunities for members of Indian tribes in the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
Nothing in this Act prevents continued consultation with Indian tribes pursuant to Executive Order 13175 (25 U.S.C. 5301 note; relating to consultation and coordination with Indian tribal governments) and other applicable laws.
The Secretary shall ensure the protection of traditional cultural and religious sites within the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and provide access to the sites by members of Indian tribes who have ancestral connections to the Ocmulgee River Corridor, in accordance with the laws (including regulations) applicable to the Secretary concerned.
The Secretary may seek to enter into memoranda of understanding, cooperative agreements, or other legally authorized agreements with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other interested Indian tribes to address issues pertaining to the management, conservation, and preservation of natural and cultural resources within the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
The Secretary shall promptly notify the parties to an agreement described in subsection (a) of any requests received from other Indian tribes seeking similar agreements concerning the management, conservation, and preservation of natural and cultural resources within the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
Upon request of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, not later than 180 days after receipt of such request, the Secretary shall take into trust for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation the approximately 133.88 acres of land held in fee by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, as generally depicted as The Muscogee Creek Nation - Fee on the map titled Muscogee Creek Nation Fee Lands and dated June 16, 2026.
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall be—
part of the Muscogee Creek Indian Reservation; and
administered in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe.
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)).
In this Act:
The term Indian tribe means an Indian tribe, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), that has a cultural affiliation, as defined in section 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001), to the Ocmulgee Mounds region, to be determined by the Secretary after appropriate tribal consultation.
The term Map means map titled Ocmulgee Mounds National Park, numbered 363/193026, and dated May 2026.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
The term State means the State of Georgia.
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park designated by section 2102(b)(1)(A) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 410yyy–3(b)(1)(A)) shall be known and designated as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park shall be considered to be a reference to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
The Secretary may make technical corrections to the Map.
The Map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park shall be administered as a unit of the National Park System in accordance with this section and the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—
section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United States Code; and
chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
The Secretary shall allow fishing on waters under the jurisdiction of the Secretary within the boundaries of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws.
The Secretary may designate zones in which, and establish periods during which, no fishing shall be allowed for reasons of public safety, administration, fish or wildlife management, or emergencies.
The Secretary shall ensure any regulations prescribing restrictions under this subsection shall be put into effect only after consultation with the State.
Nothing in this subsection prohibits hunting, fishing, or trapping on private land in accordance with applicable State and Federal laws.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to enlarge or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the State to manage, control, or regulate fish and wildlife on lands and waters, including Federal lands and waters, within the State.
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law, seek to increase employment opportunities for members of Indian tribes in the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
Nothing in this Act prevents continued consultation with Indian tribes pursuant to Executive Order 13175 (25 U.S.C. 5301 note; relating to consultation and coordination with Indian tribal governments) and other applicable laws.
The Secretary shall ensure the protection of traditional cultural and religious sites within the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and provide access to the sites by members of Indian tribes who have ancestral connections to the Ocmulgee River Corridor, in accordance with the laws (including regulations) applicable to the Secretary concerned.
The Secretary may seek to enter into memoranda of understanding, cooperative agreements, or other legally authorized agreements with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other interested Indian tribes to address issues pertaining to the management, conservation, and preservation of natural and cultural resources within the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
The Secretary shall promptly notify the parties to an agreement described in subsection (a) of any requests received from other Indian tribes seeking similar agreements concerning the management, conservation, and preservation of natural and cultural resources within the Ocmulgee Mounds National Park.
Upon request of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, not later than 180 days after receipt of such request, the Secretary shall take into trust for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation the approximately 133.88 acres of land held in fee by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, as generally depicted as The Muscogee Creek Nation - Fee on the map titled Muscogee Creek Nation Fee Lands and dated June 16, 2026.
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall be—
part of the Muscogee Creek Indian Reservation; and
administered in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe.
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)).
Legislative Timeline
5 actions-
Subcommittee Hearings Held
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Introduced in House
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Introduced in House
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Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.