S. 719: Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025

The Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025 aims to enhance the existing Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004. Here is a breakdown of the bill's key provisions:

Definition Updates

The bill updates the definitions related to "Indian forest land or rangeland". It defines such lands to include:

• Land held in trust for an Indian tribe or its members that is classified as Indian forest land or has vegetation cover such as grasses or brush.
• Land in Alaska held by an Alaska Native Corporation under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Protection and Restoration

The bill expands the purposes of the protection efforts to include both the protection and restoration of Indian forest land and rangeland. It allows projects intended to restore federal lands as well.

Criteria for Federal Land Cooperation

Additionally, the bill modifies the criteria under which federal lands can be utilized for projects. New criteria will include:

• Whether the federal land holds special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the Indian tribe.
• Introduction of watershed as an area of focus for protection or restoration alongside land.

Financial Provisions

The bill authorizes appropriations of $15 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to fund the activities stipulated in this bill.

Implementation Timeline

The amendments will take effect upon the enactment of this bill, impacting how tribal lands and federal lands are managed in conjunction with tribal interests.

Relevant Companies

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