The Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act would rename the existing Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park." It also directs how the park is administered, including fishing rules, tribal consultation, protection of sacred sites, and opportunities for agreements with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other interested tribes. A separate provision would require the Secretary of the Interior, within 180 days of a request, to take about 133.88 acres of Muscogee (Creek) Nation fee land into trust. The bill also bars that trust land from being used for class II or class III gaming.
What This Bill Does
- Renames Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park as the "Ocmulgee Mounds National Park."
- Requires the Interior Secretary to allow fishing on federal waters within the park, subject to law.
- Lets the Secretary take about 133.88 acres into trust for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation within 180 days of a request.
- Bars class II and class III gaming on the trust land.
- Authorizes agreements with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other interested tribes on resource management.
Who This Bill Affects
For most Americans, this bill would have little direct effect because it centers on one park in Georgia and a specific parcel of Muscogee (Creek) Nation land. If you visit or live near the Ocmulgee Mounds area, it could affect fishing access, park management rules, tribal access to sacred sites, and the status of the 133.88 acres taken into trust. For the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other affiliated tribes, it creates clearer pathways for consultation, access, and land stewardship, while also prohibiting gaming on the trust land.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other affiliated tribes They can argue the bill strengthens cultural stewardship by protecting sacred sites, improving access for people with ancestral ties to the area, and creating a formal path for agreements on conservation and preservation. The trust-land provision also provides a clearer federal status for land already held by the Nation.
- Local park advocates and heritage tourism supporters They may support the redesignation because the name "National Park" can elevate public recognition of the site and reinforce its importance as a major cultural and historical destination. The bill also preserves the park's resource protections while allowing managed public use such as fishing.
- Conservation and land-management stakeholders They may favor the bill's structured approach to consultation, agreements, and site protection because it preserves federal management tools while allowing coordination with tribes and the State of Georgia. The no-gaming clause may also reduce concerns about incompatible development on the trust land.
- State fisheries regulators or hunters and anglers concerned about access restrictions They may object to the Secretary's ability to create no-fishing zones or time periods, even though the bill requires state consultation. Some may worry that federal management could limit traditional recreation access over time.
- Local residents concerned about federal land status changes They may be wary of taking the 133.88 acres into trust because land moved into trust is administered under federal trust rules rather than ordinary local land-use systems. That can raise concerns about jurisdiction, taxation, and future development control.
- Opponents of expanded federal-tribal coordination in park administration Some may argue the bill gives the Interior Department too much discretion to negotiate agreements and manage access decisions that could affect non-tribal users of the park. They may also question whether a name change and related administrative changes justify federal action.
Key Implications
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“"The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park ... shall be known and designated as the 'Ocmulgee Mounds National Park'"”
This changes the park's official name in federal law. In practice, it affects signage, maps, documents, and references to the park, while leaving the park's core federal status in place.
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“"The Secretary shall allow fishing... in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws"”
Visitors would retain fishing access on federal waters inside the park, but only within the limits of existing law. The bill also preserves the Secretary's power to set no-fishing areas or seasons for safety or resource management.
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“"seek to increase employment opportunities for members of Indian tribes"”
This is a direction to the Interior Department to prioritize tribal hiring where practical. It does not create a guaranteed quota, but it does signal an employment preference goal within park operations.
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“"take into trust... approximately 133.88 acres"”
This would move a specific parcel from fee ownership into federal trust status for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Trust status changes how the land is governed and can affect jurisdiction, use, and long-term stewardship.
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“"shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming"”
Even though the land would be taken into trust, the bill expressly blocks casino-style gaming on it. That limits one major economic use that sometimes accompanies trust land acquisitions.
Official Source & Bill Facts
BillBoard checks this page against public Congress.gov metadata, then adds plain-English analysis where available.
- Bill
- HR 9416
- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Official title
- Ocmulgee Mounds National Park Redesignation Act
- Policy area
- Civil Rights
- Latest action
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. (June 24, 2026)
- Last updated
- June 25, 2026
Latest Status
June 24, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.