Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Amendments Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
Expands the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act by adding more Chippewa National Forest land in Cass County, Minnesota to the transfer framework when BIA records show the land was sold without unanimous consent of rightful landowners. It also lets the Agriculture Secretary, through the Forest Service, agree with the Tribe to substitute alternative National Forest System land on an acre-for-acre basis, prioritizing parcels near existing Leech Lake trust lands and culturally important lands while avoiding inholdings. Transfers may occur on a rolling basis as parcels are identified and surveyed.
Who Benefits and How
The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe benefits from a broader and more flexible land-restoration path, especially for culturally important parcels and parcels near existing trust lands. Tribal land managers benefit from substitute-parcel authority that can avoid fragmented ownership. Non-Tribal hunters, fishers, and recreationists benefit from language reaffirming that Minnesota Statutes section 97A.151 and the related settlement agreement continue to preserve their rights.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Forest Service, Agriculture Department, Interior Department, and Bureau of Indian Affairs must identify eligible lands, negotiate substitute parcels, complete surveys, prepare maps and legal descriptions, transfer land, and conduct public engagement and comment under applicable law. Federal land managers lose some management flexibility over transferred National Forest System parcels.
Key Provisions
- Expands eligible Leech Lake restoration land to certain Chippewa National Forest parcels in Cass County shown by BIA records as sold without unanimous owner consent.
- Authorizes acre-for-acre substitute National Forest System land transfers by agreement between the Secretary and the Tribe.
- Prioritizes substitute land adjacent to or near existing Leech Lake trust lands and land of cultural importance.
- Allows rolling transfers as land is identified and surveys are completed.
- Requires maps and legal descriptions for original and substitute transferred land.
- Reaffirms non-Tribal hunting, fishing, and recreation rights under Minnesota law and requires public engagement.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Amends the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act to expand eligible Chippewa National Forest land transfers, allow acre-for-acre substitute National Forest System parcels, permit rolling transfers, and preserve non-Tribal hunting, fishing, and recreation rights.
Key Policy Areas
Tribal Affairs, Public Lands, Forestry
Primary Purpose
Amends the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act to expand eligible Chippewa National Forest land transfers, allow acre-for-acre substitute National Forest System parcels, permit rolling transfers, and preserve non-Tribal hunting, fishing, and recreation rights.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
- Leech Lake tribal land managers
- Leech Lake cultural preservation programs
- Non-Tribal hunters
- Non-Tribal fishers
- Recreation users in Minnesota
Identified Costs
- U.S. Forest Service
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of the Interior
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Federal land managers in Chippewa National Forest
Sponsors
Tina Smith
D-MN | Primary Sponsor
Legislative Progress
Passed SenateHeld at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8687-8688; …
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous …
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. …
Reported by Ms. Murkowski, without amendment
Passed Senate (inferred from es version)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. …
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "bia"
- → Bureau of Indian Affairs
- "tribe"
- → Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
- "secretary"
- → Secretary of Agriculture
- "forest_service"
- → U.S. Forest Service
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology