Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 3383

119th Congress

Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 17, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Brian Schatz

D - HI

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Native Americans

Summary

This bipartisan bill expands tribal sovereignty by allowing all federally recognized Indian Tribes to lease trust land for up to 99 years without term limits and to grant rights-of-way without requiring Interior Department approval. Currently, only specifically named tribes have extended leasing authority, and all rights-of-way require federal approval.

Latest Action

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bipartisan bill expands tribal sovereignty by allowing all federally recognized Indian Tribes to lease trust land for up to 99 years without term limits and to grant rights-of-way without requiring Interior Department approval. Currently, only specifically named tribes have extended leasing authority, and all rights-of-way require federal approval.

Last updated: 12/26/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Extends 99-year leasing authority to all 574 federally recognized tribes
Removes term limits for tribal business site leases
Allows tribes to grant rights-of-way without federal approval if regulations approved
Creates tribal environmental review process as alternative to NEPA
Bipartisan sponsorship (Schatz-D, Murkowski-R)
Ordered to be reported favorably without amendment

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation significantly benefits all federally recognized Indian Tribes by expanding self-governance and economic development authority. Tribes can attract long-term infrastructure investment, renewable energy projects, and commercial development without federal bureaucratic delays. Pipeline and utility companies benefit from streamlined rights-of-way processes. The Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs would see reduced workload. Tribal economies would see increased investment and development flexibility.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Native Americans

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3383, 119th Congress (2025). "Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3383