North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator John Hoeven
Introduced
Summary
Would create a structured land-exchange process to restore certain lands and mineral rights to Indian Tribes within North Dakota. It would set appraisal and equal-value rules, require tribal consultation, and allow selected Federal parcels to be taken into trust.
Show full summary
- Tribal communities: Parcels that a State relinquishes inside a reservation would be taken into Federal trust for the Tribe on the conveyance date and become part of the reservation. The State and the Secretary must consult affected Tribes before any conveyance.
- State and Federal land holders: The State could relinquish State land grant parcels and select unappropriated Federal land of substantially equivalent value, with the Secretary required to approve or reject selections within 180 days and convey approved Federal parcels within 60 days. Each party would succeed to existing leases, rights-of-way, permits, and other valid rights tied to the land.
- Valuation and safeguards: Independent appraisals must follow federal standards and any value imbalance can be equalized by cash or a ledger adjustment capped at 25 percent of the Federal parcel's value; parcels under $500,000 or under $500 per acre may use mass appraisal methods. The bill would require hazardous materials certification, preserve grazing permits for their remaining terms, and preserve any litigation already pending about land or mineral ownership.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Protect leases, grazing, and hazards
If enacted, the bill would require both parties to share hazardous materials records and finish inspections and certifications before any transfer. Parties that get land would succeed to existing leases, rights-of-way, permits, and other valid rights as allowed by law. Existing grazing leases and permits on land being transferred would continue for their remaining term under current terms and could be compensated for range improvements under existing law.
Protect tribal rights and trust transfers
If enacted, the bill would let an Indian Tribe ask the Secretary to take into trust any portion of a relinquished State parcel that lies inside its reservation on the conveyance date. Conveyed lands and minerals would remain subject to applicable federal, State, and Tribal law and would not change treaty-reserved rights or lands already held in trust. The bill would not affect lawsuits about land or mineral ownership that are already pending on the date of enactment.
North Dakota land exchange process
If enacted, the bill would let North Dakota give up State land parcels inside reservations and pick federal land of similar value. The Interior Secretary would have 180 days to approve or reject a State selection. The Secretary would start steps to convey approved federal land within 60 days. Chosen federal land would be set aside from public entry and mining until conveyance, Secretary rejection, or State withdrawal. Some federal lands, like military reservations, conservation areas, and lands inside reservations, would be excluded from selection.
Rules for valuing and matching parcels
If enacted, appraisals would use federal appraisal standards or approved alternatives. Parcels under $500,000 and under $500 per acre could use quicker mass or summary appraisals, but parcels may not be split to qualify. The two parcels must be substantially equal in value. If they differ, the lower-value party would pay or record a ledger entry up to 25 percent of the federal parcel's value. Ledger imbalances must be balanced within 3 years and closed within 5 years. Mineral value for leased minerals would be reduced for likely federal revenue sharing.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Hoeven
ND • R
Cosponsors
Kevin Cramer
ND • R
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in