HR 2252 United States House · 119th Congress

North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2026

This bill allows North Dakota to exchange certain state-owned lands (often located on or near Indian reservations) for equivalent-value federal public lands. It requires the state to consult with affected tribes before transferring land, and mandates that any land within reservation boundaries be placed into federal trust for the tribe upon transfer. The exchange must balance land values, with possible cash adjustments if parcels differ in worth, and includes specific protections for existing tribal rights and grazing permits. This directly affects North Dakota's land management, tribal land holdings, and federal land administration in the state.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Mar 21, 2025 Last action May 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · May 19, 2026

MODERATE

The Engrossed version introduces a multi-phase land exchange process, allowing the State and Secretary to carry out exchanges in stages rather than as a single transaction. It also adds a new public transparency requirement mandating that final appraisals be made available for public review at least 30 days before any exchange, with notice published in a North Dakota newspaper. The short title year was updated from 2025 to 2026.

REQUIREMENT

A new phased exchange process was added in Section 3(a)(2). The land exchange may now be carried out in a single phase or multiple phases, subject to mutual agreement between the State and the Secretary. For each phase, the State must provide a selection list, and adjustments to parcels may be made within 120 days of delivery to equalize value. The approval deadline (180 days) now applies per phase rather than to the entire exchange.

ENFORCEMENT

A new Section 4(f) requires public inspection and notice for appraisals. Final appraisals and appraisal reviews must be available for public review at the BLM Montana-Dakotas State Office no later than 30 days before any land exchange. The Secretary must also post appraisals on a public website, and a notice of availability must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in North Dakota.

TECHNICAL

The short title was changed from 'North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025' to 'North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2026.'

Section 3(e)(1) was clarified to say the State makes a selection 'for such Federal land' rather than just 'the selection,' aligning the withdrawal language with the new phased process.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

upper

May 19, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3567-3569)

lower

May 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3567-3569)

lower

May 19, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-581.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors