Committee lifts HB43 from table to ensure Council on American Indian Concerns includes each state-recognized tribe

Representative Lim asked the State Planning & Community Affairs committee to pass HB43 (LC442156), a bipartisan bill that would ensure the Council on American Indian Concerns “always have representation by at least one member from each of our state recognized tribes” and would update the contact addresses for those tribes. Lim framed the measure as a way to respect tribes that the state currently recognizes while preserving a separate process for other groups seeking recognition.

"I do ask this committee to pass hb43 as is to respect the groups the three groups the valid currently recognize," Lim said, urging colleagues not to "hamstring their desires" while allowing other recognition efforts to proceed separately. Lim noted Department of Natural Resources staff and committee materials were available for further verification and referenced a group that has requested recognition as the Chickamauga tribe as an example of a separate process under consideration.

The chair entertained a motion to lift HB43 from the table; Representative Campbell was acknowledged after the motion and an unnamed committee member seconded. The committee proceeded to a voice vote. The chair called for "all those in favor say aye" and heard "aye" with no opposition voiced. The committee approved the motion and directed Representative Lim to take the bill to Rules for further consideration.

The discussion in committee focused on ensuring statutory representation on the council and on the technical need to update addresses for the state-recognized tribes to ensure proper notice and contact. The transcript records references to "Donald Kirkland with DNR" and prior committee materials as supporting documentation; DNR staff were not quoted directly in these segments. No amendments were made on the floor during this session.