HR4085-119

What This Bill Does

The Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act transforms Haskell from a Bureau of Indian Education-managed legacy institution into a federally chartered corporation in Lawrence, Kansas, governed by a 15-voting-member Tribal board plus a nonvoting student-body president. The bill cites Haskell's history from an 1884 Army school to a tuition-free university serving more than 900 Indian students from about 140 Tribal nations on a 320-acre campus. It gives the university independent corporate powers, tuition-free degree and certificate functions, Interior grants, a president appointed by the board, employee compensation and benefits authority outside most title 5 rules, Tribal-member admission and employment preferences, tax exemption, tort treatment as a federal agency, transfer of legacy functions, property conveyance, compliance with cultural and historic-preservation laws, an endowment trust with $5 million initial capital and matching rules, an independent Endowment Board, facilities master planning, annual reports, budget proposals, forward funding, and at least $27 million annually in appropriations plus endowment funding.

Who Benefits and How

Indian students benefit because Haskell must provide tuition-free scholarly study and accredited degrees or certificates in a more independent institution. Haskell Indian Nations University benefits from corporate powers, tax-exempt status, land and facility conveyance, grants, and endowment authority. Tribal governments benefit from consultation and regional representation in board nominations and from a university tied to federal trust responsibilities. Haskell employees benefit from university-controlled compensation, health, retirement, grievance, leave, and reemployment systems.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of the Interior must provide grants, establish board nomination procedures, transfer property and functions, and remain responsible for pre-enactment obligations. The Bureau of Indian Education loses direct management authority over the legacy institution. The Haskell Board of Trustees must govern the university, appoint leadership, manage fiduciary duties, create policies, submit budget proposals, and prepare facility plans. Federal taxpayers bear at least $27 million annually plus $5 million for fiscal year 2026 initial endowment capital and at least $5 million for matching support.

Key Provisions

• Creates Haskell Indian Nations University as a federally chartered corporation governed by a Tribal-member board.
• Provides tuition-free higher education functions for Indian students and transfers legacy institution functions.
• Requires employee benefit contributions, audits, reports, budget proposals, facilities master plans, and compliance with cultural resource laws.
• Authorizes at least $27 million annually, $5 million initial endowment capital for fiscal year 2026, and at least $5 million for endowment matching.