Legis Daily

Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1723| House 
| Updated: 1/16/2026
John R. Moolenaar

John R. Moolenaar

Republican Representative

Michigan

Cosponsors (7)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican)Mark B. Messmer (Republican)Russ Fulcher (Republican)

Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025 aims to clarify the rights of Indian tribes and their enterprises under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This legislation proposes to amend Section 2 of the NLRA, which defines who is considered an "employer" under federal labor law. The core provision of the bill is to exclude Indian tribes and any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on its Indian lands from the NLRA's definition of "employer." This amendment would effectively exempt these tribal entities from the federal labor relations framework that governs collective bargaining and unionization. To ensure clarity in its application, the bill also establishes specific definitions for "Indian tribe," "Indian," and "Indian lands." These definitions delineate federally recognized tribes, their members, and various categories of tribal territories, including lands within reservations, trust lands, and certain lands in Oklahoma.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-779
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4839
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-937
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 115-986
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Apr 3, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1301
Introduced in Senate
Sep 17, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Sep 17, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.
Jan 16, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 393.
Jan 16, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-458.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-779
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4839
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-937
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 115-986
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.


  • April 3, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1301
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 17, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • September 17, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.


  • January 16, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 393.


  • January 16, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-458.

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4154: Employee Rights Act
  • S 119-1301: Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025
Federal-Indian relationsIndian lands and resources rightsLabor-management relationsMinority employment

Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1723| House 
| Updated: 1/16/2026
The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025 aims to clarify the rights of Indian tribes and their enterprises under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This legislation proposes to amend Section 2 of the NLRA, which defines who is considered an "employer" under federal labor law. The core provision of the bill is to exclude Indian tribes and any enterprise or institution owned and operated by an Indian tribe and located on its Indian lands from the NLRA's definition of "employer." This amendment would effectively exempt these tribal entities from the federal labor relations framework that governs collective bargaining and unionization. To ensure clarity in its application, the bill also establishes specific definitions for "Indian tribe," "Indian," and "Indian lands." These definitions delineate federally recognized tribes, their members, and various categories of tribal territories, including lands within reservations, trust lands, and certain lands in Oklahoma.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-779
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4839
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-937
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 115-986
Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 27, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Apr 3, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-1301
Introduced in Senate
Sep 17, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Sep 17, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.
Jan 16, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 393.
Jan 16, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-458.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-779
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4839
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-937
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 115-986
    Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2017


  • February 27, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 27, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.


  • April 3, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-1301
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 17, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • September 17, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.


  • January 16, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 393.


  • January 16, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-458.
John R. Moolenaar

John R. Moolenaar

Republican Representative

Michigan

Cosponsors (7)
Doug LaMalfa (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)Ken Calvert (Republican)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican)Mark B. Messmer (Republican)Russ Fulcher (Republican)

Education and Workforce Committee

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • HR 119-4154: Employee Rights Act
  • S 119-1301: Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Federal-Indian relationsIndian lands and resources rightsLabor-management relationsMinority employment