S 622

Summary

Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Amendments Act of 2025 This bill transfers certain federal land located in the Chippewa National Forest in Cass County, Minnesota, to the Department of the Interior for the benefit of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to transfer for the benefit of the tribe land in the Chippewa National Forest that records maintained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs show was sold without the unanimous consent of the rightful landowners. Upon agreement between USDA and the tribe, USDA shall substitute alternative National Forest System land located in Cass County, Minnesota, on an acre-for-acre basis for those parcels of federal land to be transferred in a manner that avoids inholdings and provides a preference for land adjacent to or near existing Leech Lake trust lands and lands of cultural importance to the tribe, to the maximum extent practicable. USDA may transfer land to Interior on a rolling basis as that land is identified and surveys are completed. USDA, acting through the U.S. Forest Service, must provide for public engagement and comment to implement this bill.

Bill status

Status

Passed Senate

Sponsor

Sen. Tina Smith [D-MN]

Cosponsors

1

Policy area

Native Americans

Introduced

2025-02-18

Latest action

2025-12-15: Held at the desk.

Committee referrals

• Indian Affairs Committee: Senate · Reported By · 2025-10-14
• Indian Affairs Committee: Senate · Markup By · 2025-03-05
• Indian Affairs Committee: Senate · Referred To · 2025-02-18

Recent actions

• 2025-12-15: Held at the desk.
• 2025-12-15: Received in the House.
• 2025-12-15: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• 2025-12-11: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8687-8688; text: CR S8688)
• 2025-12-11: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.