Bill > HR2252

This bill, the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2026, allows the State of North Dakota to exchange certain state-owned land parcels, known as "State land grant parcels" (which include lands granted to the state upon statehood or for school purposes), for equivalent value "unappropriated Federal land" (public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management not currently in use or designated for specific purposes) if those state parcels are located within the boundaries of an Indian reservation. The Secretary of the Interior will oversee this process, ensuring that the exchanged lands are of substantially equal value, with provisions for monetary adjustments or ledger accounts if values differ, and requiring independent appraisals. If a relinquished state parcel is within a reservation, it will be held in trust for the benefit of the relevant Indian Tribe and considered part of their reservation. The bill also includes provisions for hazardous materials inspections, continuation of existing grazing permits, and protection of existing Indian rights and trust lands.