HR5910-119

What This Bill Does

This bill amends the Indian long-term leasing statute, the first section of the Act of August 9, 1955, codified at 25 U.S.C. 415(a). Current law lists particular reservations or Tribal lands that may use longer lease terms. The bill inserts land held in trust for any other Indian Tribe included on the Interior Secretary's list of federally recognized Tribes after the Chehalis Reservation reference.

The practical effect is to make the 99-year leasing authority available to trust land of federally recognized Indian Tribes generally, rather than leaving many Tribes dependent on shorter lease terms or tribe-specific statutory amendments. Longer lease authority can matter for housing, commercial development, energy projects, infrastructure, and financing because lenders, developers, and public partners often need lease terms long enough to recover investment and secure collateral.

Who Benefits and How

Federally recognized Tribal governments benefit because more trust land can be leased for up to 99 years without a separate tribe-specific act. Tribal housing authorities benefit from lease terms that better match residential financing, subdivision planning, and long-term infrastructure needs. Tribal economic development corporations benefit because commercial partners can receive longer site-control terms for projects on trust land. Private lessees and lenders benefit from clearer long-term tenure when financing buildings, utilities, energy facilities, or business operations. Tribal members benefit if longer leases support housing supply, jobs, community facilities, or revenue for Tribal programs.

Who Bears the Burden and How

BIA realty staff must administer longer-term lease approvals and records for more federally recognized Tribes. Tribal councils and land offices must evaluate whether proposed 99-year leases protect Tribal land interests across multiple generations. Lessees must comply with lease terms, environmental requirements, rent obligations, and any Tribal approvals attached to trust-land use. Interior legal staff must apply the expanded statutory authority consistently across Tribes on the federally recognized list. Community members concerned about long-term land encumbrances may face reduced flexibility once a long lease is approved.

Key Provisions

• Provides 99-year lease authority for land held in trust for any federally recognized Indian Tribe listed by the Interior Secretary.
• Amends the Act of August 9, 1955 by adding the broader Tribal trust-land category after the Chehalis Reservation reference.
• Expands access to long-term leasing tools for Tribal housing, infrastructure, energy, commercial, and community-development projects.
• Requires BIA and Tribal land officials to manage longer lease terms through existing trust-land approval and oversight processes.