Tina Smith (D-MN)
Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Amendments Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
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
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The act directly expands the land base and sovereign territory of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
- Scored +7
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill expands the land base of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe through federal land transfers to correct historical land loss.
- Scored +4
Does this make housing cost less?
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
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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)).
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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)).
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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. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The act directly expands the land base and sovereign territory of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increasing tribal land assets can provide long-term economic resources for tribal community members. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill maintains existing hunting and fishing rights for non-Tribal members in the area.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — 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? — By expanding tribal land holdings, the bill provides the Tribe with more resources for future community development.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill increases tribal sovereignty by returning specific lands to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill manages the transfer of National Forest System land to tribal control, which can influence local land management practices.
- 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