# 119-hr-3444: Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act of 2025

119-hr-3444, Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA); status in_committee (as of 2026-08-14).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3444
- As of: 2026-08-14
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3444
- Congress: 119
- Title: Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-05-15
- Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-14

## Summary

**This bill creates a national framework to expand tribal co-management of federal forest lands** and authorizes agreements that let Indian Tribes carry out specified Forest Service activities. It requires agency planning, staff training, protections for Indigenous knowledge, and funding to support Tribal participation. - Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations can propose and enter agreements to perform Forest Service activities on National Forest System lands tied to their history or culture. The Secretary must aim to implement at least 5 agreements over the first 4 years and can provide annual or semiannual payments. - Federal land management agencies must adopt or develop Tribal Co-Management Plans within 1 year and train employees to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and Tribal history into planning and operations. - Agreements lasting 5 years or more require a review in the fifth year and every 5 years after, with faster review options following natural disasters. Tribal employees carrying out covered activities are treated like Forest Service employees for liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and activities under the section are exempt from the Federal Acquisition Regulation. *Authorizes $50.0 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, increasing federal spending authority to support Tribal co-management.*

## Cosponsors (6)

- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Tribal agreements to manage national forests: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Forest Service could sign agreements with Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations to do forest and grassland work on national forests tied to the Tribe. Work would include planning, restoration, recreation, heritage, and research, and must follow land plans and laws. The Secretary wou…
- Tribal co-management plans and training: benefit, medium. If enacted, each federal land agency would have to create a Tribal Co-Management Plan within one year. If a similar plan already exists, the agency would adopt it within 120 days and update it to cut Tribal paperwork. Plans would list needed activities, follow land plans and laws, and focus on land…
- Fair process, Tribal knowledge, and reviews: benefit, low. If enacted, Tribes seeking an agreement would submit a proposal that lists each activity and the national forest lands involved. The Forest Service would publish a non‑exhaustive list of eligible activities within one year and update it every three years. The agency would weigh effects on other Tri…
- Funding, payments, and protections for agreements: benefit, low. If enacted, Congress would authorize $50 million for FY2026–FY2030 to support these agreements, and the funds would stay available until spent. Tribes could choose annual or semi‑annual payments. Payments would first use unobligated funds for the activity, then use the authorized funds if needed. I…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-3444 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3444)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3069)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3444 (as of 2026-08-14).