Nebraska panel debates Omaha jurisdiction bill

Thursday, February 21, 2008  

The Nebraska Legislature's Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Wednesday on a bill to cede state jurisdiction on the Omaha Reservation.

The state has already ceded most of its criminal and civil jurisdiction on the reservation. LR234 would complete the process for offenses involving the operation of motor vehicles on public roads or highways.

If the bill passes, the Omaha Tribe will only have jurisdiction over its members and other Indians. But non-Indians complain the bill will complicate a long-running dispute over the boundaries of the reservation.

The state has already ceded its jurisdiction on the Winnebago and Santee Sioux reservations.

Get the Story:
Lively debate over tribal jurisdiction change (Midlands News Service 2/21)

Get the Bill:
Retrocede jurisdiction over the Omaha Indian Reservation (LR234)

Court Decision:
Pender v. Omaha Tribe (October 4, 2007)

Related Stories:
Non-Indians question Omaha jurisdiction bill (2/20)
Lawsuit challenges Omaha Tribe's jurisdiction (1/9)
Omaha Tribe's court to hear non-Indian challenge (10/9)
Omaha Reservation boundaries a source of dispute (4/20)
Omaha Tribe barred from imposing alcohol tax (4/18)
Non-Indians challenge Omaha Tribe's state tax deal (3/29)
Tribes sign cross-deputization agreements with state (08/15)
Omaha Tribe near law enforcement agreement (07/08)
Sheriff says tribe politicizing law enforcement (03/11)
Two tribes in Nebraska raising political awareness (3/10)
Lance Morgan: The politics of fear and racism (02/19)
Non-Indians question Omaha Tribe's jurisdiction (01/21)
White rancher in Neb. arrested by tribe's police (11/21)
Farmer indicted for ramming into Omaha officials (10/24)
Farmer rams tractor into car carrying tribe officials (10/21)
Dispute over Omaha Reservation boundaries simmers (9/5)
More talks planned over jurisdictional tangles (01/16)
Tribal jurisdiction subject of talks (1/15)
State seeks police agreement with tribe (1/9)
Omaha reservation boundary in dispute (1/6)
BIA audit slams Omaha Tribe's police force (5/8)