Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 76.
Introduced:Feb 25, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Deb Fischer
Senator
Republican
NE
Cosponsors
2
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Native Americans
Summary
This bill reauthorizes and expands the Tribal Forest Protection Act through FY2031. It includes Alaska Native corporations, removes adjacency requirements, allows projects on tribal lands, and covers lands with cultural significance to tribes.
Latest Action
Held at the desk.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill reauthorizes and expands the Tribal Forest Protection Act through FY2031. It includes Alaska Native corporations, removes adjacency requirements, allows projects on tribal lands, and covers lands with cultural significance to tribes.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) and expands the lands and activities eligible for inclusion in the TFPA.</p><p>Currently under the TFPA, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may enter into contracts and agreements with Indian tribes for tribes to carry out land management projects on federal lands. These projects are designed to protect Indian forest lands and rangelands from wildfire, disease, and other threats coming from federal lands. However, the TFPA is currently limited to projects on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands and rangelands under the jurisdiction of the tribe.</p><p>This bill removes certain limitations of the TFPA, first by expanding the definition of <em>Indian forest land or rangeland</em> to include land in Alaska that is held by Alaska Native corporations, thereby allowing these corporations to participate in TFPA projects.</p><p>Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that TFPA projects must occur on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands or rangelands. The bill instead requires the federal land involved to have a special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the tribe.</p><p>The bill allows TFPA projects to be carried out directly on Indian forest lands and rangelands. (Currently, the TFPA only applies to work conducted on federal lands and not on tribal lands.)</p><p>The bill also updates a requirement for Interior and USDA to report to Congress on TFPA activities.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Reauthorizes Tribal Forest Protection Act
Includes Alaska Native corporations
Removes land adjacency requirements
Allows projects on tribal lands
Covers culturally significant lands
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Tribes would have expanded authority for forest management on federal lands. Alaska Native corporations could participate in protection projects. Wildfire and disease prevention efforts would increase on tribal-related lands.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Native Americans
Related Subjects
Alaska
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Federal-Indian relations
Forests, forestry, trees
Indian lands and resources rights
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
719, 119th Congress (2025). "Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-719
