PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] · R–NY
Legislative record
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Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Sep 19, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-13 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This bill would allow the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino to be located in the National Mall’s legally defined Reserve area, overriding other legal restrictions on that location. It would require other federal agencies or entities to transfer administrative control of a designated museum site to the Smithsonian after notifications. It would also require the museum’s trustees to represent varied Latino histories and cultures and seek guidance reflecting diverse political viewpoints and lived experiences.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, including section 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino may be located within the Reserve (as defined in section 8902(a) of title 40, United States Code).
As soon as practicable after the date on which the individuals described in subparagraph (B) receive the written notification described in such subparagraph, the head of the Federal agency or entity shall transfer to the Smithsonian Institution its administrative jurisdiction over the land or structure that has been designated as the site for the Museum.
The Board of Trustees shall ensure that the exhibits and programs of the Museum accurately and comprehensively represent the varied cultures, histories, events, and values of Hispanic or Latino communities.
guidance from a broad array of knowledgeable and respected sources reflecting the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by Hispanics or Latinos in the United States
Section 1 would name the legislation the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act.
This Act may be cited as the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act.
Section 2(a) would permit, but would not require, a museum location within the Reserve. That permission would override other laws and regulations restricting that location, expressly including 40 U.S.C. 8908(c). The Reserve is defined in 40 U.S.C. 8902(a), whose text is not supplied.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, including section 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino may be located within the Reserve (as defined in section 8902(a) of title 40, United States Code).
Section 2(a) would also delete the language beginning with “, except that” through the end of an existing museum provision, replacing it with a period. The bill does not reproduce the deleted language.
Section 201(g)(4) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80u(g)(4)) is amended by striking , except that and all that follows and inserting a period.
Before designating a museum site controlled by another federal agency or entity, the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents would have to notify that agency or entity’s head.
The Board of Regents shall not designate a site for the Museum that is under the administrative jurisdiction of another Federal agency or entity without first notifying the head of the Federal agency or entity.
The notified agency or entity head would have to promptly inform the chairs and ranking minority members of seven specified congressional committees in writing. The notice would state that the museum site had been designated and that a transfer would begin as soon as practicable.
Once notified under subparagraph (A), the head of the Federal agency or entity shall promptly submit written notification to the Chair and ranking minority members of the Committee on Rules and Administration, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on House Administration, the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, stating that the Federal agency or entity was notified by the Board of Regents that a site under its jurisdiction was designated and that a transfer will be initiated as soon as practicable.
After those congressional recipients receive the notice, the agency or entity head would have to transfer administrative control of the designated land or structure to the Smithsonian as soon as practicable. The provision sets no fixed number of days for the transfer.
As soon as practicable after the date on which the individuals described in subparagraph (B) receive the written notification described in such subparagraph, the head of the Federal agency or entity shall transfer to the Smithsonian Institution its administrative jurisdiction over the land or structure that has been designated as the site for the Museum.
The museum’s Board of Trustees would have to ensure that exhibits and programs accurately and comprehensively represent Hispanic or Latino communities’ varied cultures, histories, events, and values. This is a proposed duty, not evidence that particular exhibits currently meet or fail that standard.
The Board of Trustees shall ensure that the exhibits and programs of the Museum accurately and comprehensively represent the varied cultures, histories, events, and values of Hispanic or Latino communities.
The trustees would have to seek and use, to their maximum ability, guidance from a broad array of knowledgeable and respected sources reflecting diverse political viewpoints and experiences among Hispanics or Latinos in the United States. They would have to seek that guidance both when creating exhibits and programs and when substantially revising them.
the Board of Trustees shall ensure that it seeks and utilizes to its maximum ability guidance from a broad array of knowledgeable and respected sources reflecting the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by Hispanics or Latinos in the United States, and shall seek such guidance for both the creation and substantial revision of exhibits and programs.
The guidance would need to draw on experts and publications representing the broad spectrum of Hispanic or Latino communities, including varied viewpoints, political ideologies, cultures, and lived experiences in the United States. A qualifying individual must have gained, through education, publication, or witnessing an important or historical event, the ability to advise on at least one unique viewpoint or experience of a particular Hispanic or Latino community. A notable segment of that community must also have relied on the individual’s knowledge for education, heritage preservation, or historical purposes. The definition includes that individual’s work reflecting this ability and knowledge.
the term broad array means a range of experts and publications that represent the broad spectrum of Hispanic or Latino communities, to include varied viewpoints, political ideologies, cultures, and lived experiences in the United States
the term knowledgeable and respected source means an individual who has gained through education, publication, or witnessing an important or historical event, the ability to advise on at least one unique viewpoint or experience of a particular Hispanic or Latino community, and whose knowledge has been relied upon by a notable segment of that community for education, heritage preservation, or historical purposes, and includes the work of such an individual which reflects such ability and knowledge.
The Smithsonian Secretary would have to report to seven specified congressional committees within 120 days after enactment and every two years afterward. Reports would describe actions taken by the museum director and trustees to comply with the exhibit and guidance requirements, including actions concerning substantial revisions to current exhibits and programs and planning for future ones.
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of the Smithsonian shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a report on actions taken by the Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Museum and the Board of Trustees of the Museum to comply with the requirements of the amendments made by subsection (c), including a description of actions taken with respect to substantial revisions of current exhibits and programs as well the planning of future exhibits and programs.
Section 2 and its amendments would take effect as though they had been included in the enactment of the museum provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 201 of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80u).
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated September 19, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Administration and Natural Resources committees on February 13, 2025.
Source snapshot updated 2026-09-19T23:40:47Z.
2025-02-13: Introduced in House
2025-02-13: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-13. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider on appropriations was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending earmark was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials. The source set does not establish formal earmark status.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
Narrow institution-specific treatment is identified below. Classification as a targeted benefit is not a judgment about its justification.
The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino would receive a specific exception allowing a location within the Reserve despite other laws or regulations restricting that location. This narrow siting permission directly serves the bill’s museum-location policy.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, including section 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino may be located within the Reserve (as defined in section 8902(a) of title 40, United States Code).
The Smithsonian would receive administrative control of land or a structure designated for this museum through a mandatory transfer from the federal agency or entity controlling it, after the required congressional recipients receive written notification. This is a museum-specific land-control benefit directly related to the bill’s siting policy, not an express appropriation of money.
Once notified under subparagraph (A), the head of the Federal agency or entity shall promptly submit written notification to the Chair and ranking minority members of the Committee on Rules and Administration, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on House Administration, the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, stating that the Federal agency or entity was notified by the Board of Regents that a site under its jurisdiction was designated and that a transfer will be initiated as soon as practicable.
As soon as practicable after the date on which the individuals described in subparagraph (B) receive the written notification described in such subparagraph, the head of the Federal agency or entity shall transfer to the Smithsonian Institution its administrative jurisdiction over the land or structure that has been designated as the site for the Museum.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Sep 19, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI