S. 3383 · Passed Senate · Native Americans

Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act of 2025

What it does

Amends the Long-Term Leasing Act to expand tribal leasing authority to all federally recognized Indian tribes and remove federal lease-term caps on trust or restricted lands.
Grants Indian tribes authority to approve rights-of-way across tribal lands without prior Secretary of the Interior approval, provided the tribe submits and implements an approved tribal regulation governing such rights-of-way.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to approve or disapprove tribal right-of-way regulations within 180 days, subject to consistency with federal regulations and tribal environmental review processes that comply with public notice and comment requirements.
Exempts the Secretary of the Interior from compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act section 306108, and the Endangered Species Act when approving tribal right-of-way regulations.
Shifts federal trust liability away from the United States for losses sustained by parties to tribally-granted rights-of-way, while preserving the Secretary's discretion to enforce or cancel such rights-of-way for regulatory violations.

Oct 5, 2026: Held at the desk.

Committee: Senate Indian Affairs