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S. 1304Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act

Sponsored by Alex PadillaSen. Alex Padilla (D-CA)
Introduced April 3, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 1:23 AM UTC

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act permits the museum to be located in the National Mall’s Reserve, even though other laws normally restrict such placement. It sets procedures for notifying and transferring land jurisdiction if the site falls under another federal agency, and it obligates the museum’s trustees to ensure that exhibits represent the diverse political and cultural experiences of Hispanic and Latino communities. The law also requires regular reports to Congress on how these diversity standards are being implemented.

Key Provisions

  • Allows the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino to be built within the Reserve of the National Mall, overriding existing location restrictions.
  • Amends the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act so the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents must notify any other federal agency that has jurisdiction over a chosen site, and that agency must transfer jurisdiction to the Smithsonian as soon as practicable.
  • Requires the Museum’s Board of Trustees to ensure exhibits and programs accurately reflect the full range of Hispanic/Latino cultures, histories, and political viewpoints, using guidance from a broad array of knowledgeable sources.
  • Mandates that the Smithsonian Secretary submit a report to several congressional committees within 120 days of enactment and every two years thereafter, detailing how the Museum is meeting the new diversity and exhibit‑revision requirements.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

April 3, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 3, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

April 3, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 3, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1304

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 3, 2025

Mr. Padilla (for himself, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Moreno, Mr. Luján, Mr. Gallego, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

A BILL

To permit the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino to be located within the Reserve of the National Mall, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act.

2.

Site of Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino

(a)

Authorizing site within Reserve of National Mall

(1)

In general

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).

(2)

Conforming amendment

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.

(b)

Use of site under the jurisdiction of another Federal agency

Section 201(g)(2) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80u(g)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

(2)

Site under the jurisdiction of another Federal agency

(A)

Notification to other agency or entity

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.

(B)

Notification to Committees

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.

(C)

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.

.

(c)

Ensuring diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences

Section 201(d)(2)(D) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80u(d)(2)(D)) is amended to read as follows:

(D)

Ensuring diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences

(i)

In general

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.

(ii)

Specific requirements

In carrying out its duties, 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.

(iii)

Definitions

In this subparagraph—

(I)

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; and

(II)

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.

.

(d)

Reports to Congress

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.

(e)

Effective date

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).