H.R. 2252: North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025

This bill, titled the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025, aims to facilitate the return of certain lands and associated mineral rights to Indian tribes in North Dakota by streamlining the process through which the state can relinquish its interests in certain parcels of land. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of the bill:

Purpose and Definitions

The bill is designed to:

• Allow the state of North Dakota to relinquish rights to specific land parcels.
• Authorize the state to select and receive federal land in exchange, of equal value.
• Restore land and minerals to recognized Indian tribes within the state.

Key terms in the bill include:

• State land grant parcel: Land granted to North Dakota for specific uses, such as education.
• Unappropriated Federal land: Public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management that is not currently claimed.
• Reservation: Any federally recognized Indian reservation in North Dakota.

Process of Relinquishment and Selection

When the state decides to relinquish any of its land within a reservation:

• The state can select unappropriated federal land of equivalent value.
• The Secretary of the Interior must approve or reject the selection within 180 days.
• An environmental review may be conducted before any land is relinquished.

Conveyance of Land

Once the Secretary approves the land selection:

• The Secretary must initiate the conveyance of federal land within 60 days.
• The state must relinquish rights to the land it is giving up at the same time.

Handling of Land within Reservations

If any of the relinquished land is located within a reservation:

• The land will be taken into trust for the benefit of the Indian tribe.
• The tribes will retain rights to that land as part of their reservation portfolio.
• Consultations with the tribes are required prior to the conveyance process.

Valuation and Appraisal

The bill stipulates that:

• Land values for the relinquished state land and the selected federal land must be approximately equal.
• If values differ, the party with the lesser value must compensate the other.
• Independent appraisers will conduct valuations, ensuring fairness in the exchange.

Miscellaneous Provisions

The bill preserves all existing rights of Indian tribes under treaties or existing laws and ensures that the conveyance of land complies with regulations about hazardous materials. It also allows continuation of grazing arrangements on any land subject to existing leases or permits.

Finally, it addresses ongoing legal disputes by stating that no pending litigation regarding ownership will be affected by this Act.

Relevant Companies

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