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North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-1084| Senate 
| Updated: 3/14/2025
John Hoeven

John Hoeven

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (1)
Kevin Cramer (Republican)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation establishes a mechanism for the State of North Dakota to relinquish certain state land grant parcels located wholly or partially within the boundaries of any recognized Indian reservation in the state. The primary purpose is to facilitate the restoration of these lands and minerals to the respective Indian Tribes. In return, the State is authorized to select one or more parcels of **unappropriated Federal land** of substantially equivalent value. The Secretary of the Interior must approve or reject the State's selection within 180 days, and the valuation of both the relinquished State land and the selected Federal land will be determined by independent appraisals, ensuring an **equal value** exchange. If values are not equal, the difference can be balanced through payments or managed via a ledger account, which must be balanced within three years and closed within five years of the last conveyance. Once the Secretary approves a selection, the federal land is conveyed to the State, and concurrently, the State relinquishes its interest in the original state land grant parcel. Crucially, if the relinquished State land is within a reservation, it will be taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the applicable **Indian Tribe** upon their request and considered part of that Tribe's reservation. The State and Secretary are required to consult with affected Indian Tribes before such conveyances. The Act specifies that all conveyed land and minerals remain subject to applicable Federal, State, and Tribal laws. It explicitly protects existing **treaty rights** and other recognized rights of Indian Tribes, and does not affect land or minerals already held in trust for Tribes or individual Indian allotments. Provisions also address hazardous materials inspections prior to conveyance and ensure the continuation of existing grazing permits, leases, or contracts on conveyed lands, while clarifying that the Act does not apply to or affect pending litigation regarding land or mineral ownership.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3200
North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1088
North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023
Mar 14, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 14, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 5, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2252
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3200
    North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1088
    North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023


  • March 14, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 14, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • March 5, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2252
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2252: North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025

North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-1084| Senate 
| Updated: 3/14/2025
This legislation establishes a mechanism for the State of North Dakota to relinquish certain state land grant parcels located wholly or partially within the boundaries of any recognized Indian reservation in the state. The primary purpose is to facilitate the restoration of these lands and minerals to the respective Indian Tribes. In return, the State is authorized to select one or more parcels of **unappropriated Federal land** of substantially equivalent value. The Secretary of the Interior must approve or reject the State's selection within 180 days, and the valuation of both the relinquished State land and the selected Federal land will be determined by independent appraisals, ensuring an **equal value** exchange. If values are not equal, the difference can be balanced through payments or managed via a ledger account, which must be balanced within three years and closed within five years of the last conveyance. Once the Secretary approves a selection, the federal land is conveyed to the State, and concurrently, the State relinquishes its interest in the original state land grant parcel. Crucially, if the relinquished State land is within a reservation, it will be taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the applicable **Indian Tribe** upon their request and considered part of that Tribe's reservation. The State and Secretary are required to consult with affected Indian Tribes before such conveyances. The Act specifies that all conveyed land and minerals remain subject to applicable Federal, State, and Tribal laws. It explicitly protects existing **treaty rights** and other recognized rights of Indian Tribes, and does not affect land or minerals already held in trust for Tribes or individual Indian allotments. Provisions also address hazardous materials inspections prior to conveyance and ensure the continuation of existing grazing permits, leases, or contracts on conveyed lands, while clarifying that the Act does not apply to or affect pending litigation regarding land or mineral ownership.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3200
North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1088
North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023
Mar 14, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 14, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 5, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2252
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3200
    North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1088
    North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023


  • March 14, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 14, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • March 5, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2252
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
John Hoeven

John Hoeven

Republican Senator

North Dakota

Cosponsors (1)
Kevin Cramer (Republican)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2252: North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted