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119-hr-41119th CongressWALLET

Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Sponsored By: Representative Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

Passed House

Summary

Recognition and ANCSA compensation for five Southeast Alaska Native communities. This bill would let Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell form Urban Corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and receive land and settlement shares tied to those corporations.

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  • Native individuals and shareholders: People enrolled in those five Native Villages may enroll in the corresponding Urban Corporation. Former Southeast Alaska Regional Corporation shareholders who enroll in an Urban Corporation would receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock and inheritance rules mirror enrollment eligibility.
  • Communities and assets: The Secretaries must convey surface estates totaling about 23,040 acres across specified parcels to the new Urban Corporations. Haines uses a two‑phase conveyance with Phase 1 of about 81 acres and Phase 2 of about 37 acres plus 55 acres that depend on mining claim resolution.
  • Public access and management: The bill preserves public and State easements, requires mutual‑use road agreements with the Forest Service, allows limited access restrictions to protect safety and resources, and affirms State fish and wildlife authority.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Shares and trusts for five Alaska Native villages

If enacted, Alaska Natives in Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell would be able to form Urban Corporations. Eligible Natives would be enrolled by the Secretary. Each person who was a Southeast Alaska Regional Corporation shareholder would get 100 shares in the new Urban Corporation. If you inherited regional shares and the decedent would have been eligible, you would get the same number of Urban Corporation shares. You would still be able to receive at‑large regional distributions. Each Urban Corporation could set up a settlement trust that would use income first for elders and minor children, then for other enrollees.

Land grants to five Alaska Native corporations

The bill would direct the Secretary to give about 23,040 acres of surface land to each Urban Corporation for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell. When the surface is conveyed, subsurface rights would go to the Southeast Alaska Regional Corporation. The transfers would be subject to valid existing rights and specific parcel exceptions shown on the maps. These acreage amounts would count as full satisfaction even if surveyed area is smaller.

Public access and road-sharing on conveyed lands

The Secretary would aim to finish interim land transfers within 2 years after each Urban Corporation is formed, with up to 1 extra year for parcels under public‑easement appeals. Conveyances and patents would reserve public easements, and any end to a reserved easement would require Federal Register notice. Conveyed lands would stay open for subsistence and noncommercial recreation, with reasonable posted restrictions and fees to protect safety, culture, and the environment. The Forest Service and each Urban Corporation would seek a binding road‑sharing agreement; third parties could use roads only after signing an agreement with the Urban Corporation. Existing Forest Service guiding and outfitting permits on the land would end at conveyance, but the Urban Corporation would let the holder continue under the old terms for the rest of the term and one additional 10‑year renewal.

Temporary halt on new mining claims

The bill would temporarily withdraw the listed Federal parcels from new public‑land entries, new mining claims, and new mineral or geothermal leases. The block would be subject to valid existing rights and would end once the land is conveyed under the bill.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

AK • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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