Bill · S. 3383· Senate(119-S-3383)
Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 12/8/2025
- Last activity
- 10/5/2026 — Held at the desk.
- Sponsored by
- Brian Schatz
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 2
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Awaiting House
What this bill would do
This bill is titled the Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025. It amends past laws to make improvements related to tribal leases and rights-of-way across Indian land. Specifically, it updates rules for leasing trust or restricted lands and allows Indian tribes to grant rights-of-way over their tribal land for any purpose. These tribal grants can happen without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior if they follow an approved tribal regulation. The legislation also sets up rules for the Secretary to review these tribal regulations and handle compliance issues. Additionally, the bill outlines how the United States trust responsibility applies to these rights-of-way.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+5
Empowers Native American tribes with increased self-determination, local control, and streamlined land management.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+3
Promotes economic activity and infrastructure development in rural tribal areas.
Is this likely to grow the economy?+3
Simplifies leasing and rights-of-way procedures on Indian lands, encouraging commerce and economic development.
The opposite
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-2
Exempts the Secretary of the Interior's approval of tribal regulations from major federal environmental laws like NEPA and the ESA.
Does this give the federal government more power?-2
Retains oversight and discretionary enforcement/cancellation authority for the Secretary of the Interior over tribal land rights.
How the text last changed
Engrossed in Senate (9/29/2026), compared with Reported to Senate. Each change is on the Text tab.
The newer version of the bill changes the rules for leasing certain Indian lands. It updates how specific tribes, bands, pueblos, villages, communities, or reservations are identified when applying lease rules. These changes rely on the most recent list published by the Secretary pursuant to section 104(a) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131(a)).
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(c) adds a new Section 8 that allows an Indian tribe to grant a right-of-way across its tribal land for any purpose. This could benefit tribes by giving them more direct control over economic development and land use without always needing federal approval.
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Section 2(c) creates Section 8(b)(2)(A)(ii), which requires tribal regulations to provide an environmental review process that informs the public and gives them a reasonable opportunity to comment on significant environmental impacts. This ensures community transparency and public input for projects.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Section 2(c) adds a new Section 8(b)(2)(B), which exempts the Secretary of the Interior from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, historic preservation laws, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 when making an approval decision on tribal regulations. Some might consider this negative because it removes standard federal environmental and cultural reviews for these specific approval decisions.
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Section 2(c) adds a new Section 8(d)(1), which states that the United States shall not be liable for losses sustained by any party to a right-of-way granted by a tribe. This could be viewed as a burden or negative outcome for individuals or parties who suffer losses and cannot seek compensation from the federal government.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+5Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Business Owners+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3Improves Small Business Support+2Increases Job Creation+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+3Improves Roads And Bridges+2Improves Environmental Protections-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power-2
The version one chamber actually passed
What changed from Reported to Senate
The newer version of the bill changes the rules for leasing certain Indian lands. It updates how specific tribes, bands, pueblos, villages, communities, or reservations are identified when applying lease rules. These changes rely on the most recent list published by the Secretary pursuant to section 104(a) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131(a)).
Each change
- Section 2 removes specific references to a band, pueblo, village, community, component hand, or component reservation individually, and removes parenthetical inclusions, replacing them with a reference to the most recent list published by the Secretary pursuant to section 104(a) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131(a)).
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
| Updated | Bill | Title | Policy Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week ago | In the nature of a substitute. |
- 10/5/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 9/29/2026
- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5144-5145; text: CR S5144-5145)
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5144-5145; text: CR S5144-5145)
- 7/16/2026
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-130.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 459.
- 6/17/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/17/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 12/8/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina