Bill · S. 622· Senate(119-S-622)
Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Amendments Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/18/2025
- Last activity
- 12/15/2025 — Held at the desk.
- Sponsored by
- Tina Smith
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Awaiting House
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the ``Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Amendments Act of 2025'', amends previous legislation regarding the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. It expands the definition of land to include any land managed by the Forest Service in the Chippewa National Forest that was sold without unanimous consent of rightful landowners. The bill allows the Secretary to substitute alternative National Forest System land in Cass County on an acre-for-acre basis. It also permits land transfers to occur on a rolling basis as land is identified and surveyed. Finally, the Act reaffirms that hunting, fishing, and recreation rights for non-Tribal members remain unchanged.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+8
The act directly expands the land base and sovereign territory of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+7
The bill expands the land base of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe through federal land transfers to correct historical land loss.
Does this make housing cost less?+4
By expanding tribal land holdings, the bill provides the Tribe with more resources for future community development.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expansion of Land Ownership: The bill includes land managed by the Secretary through the Chief of the Forest Service in the Chippewa National Forest that was sold without the unanimous consent of rightful landowners (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(i)(ii)).
-
Flexibility in Land Transfer: The Secretary can substitute alternative National Forest System land in Cass County on an acre-for-acre basis (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
-
Land Consolidation and Cultural Preservation: The land substitution process aims to avoid in-holdings and provides a preference for land that is adjacent to or near existing Leech Lake trust lands and lands of cultural importance to the Tribe (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Efficient Transfer Process: Land transfers can occur on a rolling basis as land is identified and surveys are completed (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the text provided.
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+8Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Rural Residents+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+7Improves Affordable Housing+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+3
- 12/15/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/11/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8687-8688; text: CR S8688)
- 10/14/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-78.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 187.
- 3/5/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2/18/2025
- 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.
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota