House advances bill on Catawba Indian Reservation expansion to second reading

The House of Representatives on the floor took up House Bill 3438, sponsored by Representative Pope and Representative Brandon Newton, concerning an expansion to the Catawba Indian Reservation in conjunction with York County. The clerk ordered a roll call and the chamber recorded that the bill received a second reading.

The measure was described on the floor as confirming an action tied to an ordinance or resolution passed in 2021 relating to the Catawba Reservation and York County. The Speaker directed the roll call; the clerk then closed the roll and tabulated votes, and the chair announced that the bill had received a second reading. The transcript does not give further legislative steps or a final passage vote on third reading.

Why it matters: changes to reservation boundaries or reservations’ jurisdictional status typically involve local governments and tribal authorities; the House’s action to advance the bill to a second reading is a procedural step that keeps the measure active in the legislature.

Details noted on the floor: the clerk said a roll call was required and later reported the roll closed and polls tabulated. The transcript includes a reference that the action “is regarding members, the expansion to Catawba Indian Reservation in conjunction with York County” and that “there was a resolution ordinance number that was passed in 2021, and this is confirming that.” No further policy text, fiscal impact, committee referral, or final disposition of the bill appears in the provided transcript.

Next steps: the transcript records the bill received a second reading; a later reading or final vote was not recorded in the provided excerpt.