To make permanent the legislative reinstatement, following the decision of Duro against Reina (58 U.S.L.W. 4643, May 29, 1990), of the power of Indian tribes to exercise criminal jurisdiction over Indians.
Public Law 102-137 · H.R. 972 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 28, 1991 · Native Americans
Sponsor: Rep. William Richardson (D-NM-3)
Cosponsors (2): Rep. Ben Campbell, Rep. William Zeliff
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1991 to make permanent the legislative reinstatement of the power of tribal courts to exercise criminal misdemeanor jurisdiction over nonmember Indians.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Natural Resources Committee · House · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 36 actions.
- Oct 28, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-137.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 25, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 22, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Miller (CA) brought up conference report H. Rept. 102-261 by previously agreed to special order.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 102-261 filed.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 102-261 filed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report.
- FloorFloor · CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT - Mr. Miller of California asked unanimous consent that it may be in order today, or any day hereafter, to consider the conference report and that the conference report be considered as having been read when called up for consideration. Agreed …
- Oct 17, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Oct 16, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement and official papers held at the desk in Senate.
- Sep 26, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference held.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conference held.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments, agrees to request for a conference, appoints conferees Inouye; DeConcini; Burdick; Daschle; Conrad; Reid; Simon; Akaka; Wellstone; McCain; Murkowski; Cochran; Gorton; Domenici; Kassebaum; Nickles.
- Sep 25, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Chair appointed conferees: Miller (CA), Richardson, and Rhodes.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and request a conference Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Miller (CA) asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and request a conference.
- FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House requests a conference.
- FloorFloor · Without objection, the Speaker reserved the right to make future appointments of conferees.
- Sep 23, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
- Sep 19, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- May 15, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Indian Affairs Committee
- May 14, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.