S. 1084: North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025

This bill, known as the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025, seeks to facilitate the transfer of certain lands and minerals between the State of North Dakota and Indian Tribes within the state. Here’s a detailed summary of its main provisions:

Purpose of the Bill

The primary aim of this bill is to authorize the relinquishment of specific parcels of land owned by the State of North Dakota and allow the selection of unappropriated federal land to be given back to Indian Tribes. This is intended to restore land and mineral rights that may have historical or cultural significance to those tribes.

Key Definitions

• North Dakota Enabling Act: Legislation that granted statehood to North Dakota and included rights to land.
• Reservation: Any recognized Indian reservation in North Dakota.
• Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of the Interior.
• State: The State of North Dakota, specifically managing certain lands through its Board of University and School Lands.
• State land grant parcel: Various types of land granted to the State at the time of statehood or subsequently for school purposes.
• Unappropriated Federal land: Public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in North Dakota that is not currently designated for specific use.

Relinquishment and Selection Process

The bill outlines a process where the State can relinquish land that is partially or wholly within a tribal reservation. In exchange, the State can select federal land of equivalent value. Specific steps include:

• If the State decides to give up certain lands, the Secretary of the Interior must approve the selection of new federal land.
• The Secretary has a timeframe of 180 days to approve or deny the selection.
• The Secretary may also conduct environmental reviews if deemed necessary.

Conveyance of Selected Land

Once the Secretary approves land selections, the following occurs:

• The Secretary must initiate actions to officially transfer the federal land to the State within 60 days.
• When the land is transferred, the State must simultaneously relinquish the original land to the Secretary.

Management and Trust Status

If the relinquished state land is located within a tribal reservation, it may be taken into trust for the benefit of the relevant Indian Tribe. This means that the land would be managed by the tribe, enhancing their control over it.

Consultation Requirement

Before the transfer of state land within tribal boundaries, the State and the Secretary are required to consult with the affected Indian Tribes, ensuring that tribal perspectives are considered in the process.

Value Assessment

To ensure fair exchanges of land, the bill stipulates:

• Land parcels exchanged should have substantially equal values.
• Independent appraisals will determine the value of the lands involved.
• If values differ, the party offering the lesser value may need to compensate the other party to equalize the exchange.

Miscellaneous Provisions

The bill also includes several additional points:

• All conveyed land and minerals will still be subject to existing federal, state, and tribal laws.
• The bill does not alter any rights related to treaties or agreements already in place for Indian Tribes.
• Lands conveyed under this bill must be inspected for hazardous materials prior to transfer.
• If land is currently leased for grazing or other usages, those agreements can continue unless otherwise modified.

Exclusions from the Bill

Finally, the bill clarifies that it does not affect any ongoing litigation or disputes regarding land ownership or mineral rights in North Dakota that may be pending at the time of enactment.

Relevant Companies

• None found