To ratify a conveyance of a portion of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation to Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, pursuant to the settlement of litigation between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Rio Arriba County, State of New Mexico, to authorize issuance of a patent for said lands, and to change the exterior boundary of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation accordingly, and for other purposes.

This bill, introduced in 2006, seeks to resolve a long-standing land and road dispute between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Rio Arriba County in New Mexico. It would officially transfer a specific portion of tribal land to the county and adjust the reservation’s boundaries to reflect this change.

For local citizens, the practical impact would be the permanent settlement of litigation regarding a disputed county road. In exchange for the county formally abandoning its claim to the road, the tribe would provide the county with a deed to specific lands, ensuring clear legal ownership and allowing for more stable local infrastructure management.