H.R. 43

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide that Village Corporations shall not be required to convey land in trust to the State of Alaska for the establishment of Municipal Corporations, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 3, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Begich · Committee: Committee on Natural Resources

Table of contents

• H.R. 43
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Reversion of certain land conveyed in trust to the State of Alaska

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Reversion of certain land conveyed in trust to the State of Alaska

• Section 14(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act () is amended— 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)
  • by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
  • in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking and inserting the following:
    • (c) Conveyance of certain land by Village Corporation
      • (1) In general
        • Each patent
  • in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the undesignated matter following subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), in the first sentence—
    • by striking section 14(c) of this Actand inserting this subsection; and
    • by striking and inserting the following:
      • (2) Technical assistance
        • (A) In general
          • There are authorized
  • in paragraph (2)(A) (as so redesignated), in the second sentence, by striking and inserting the following:
    • (B) Form of funding
      • The Secretary
  • in paragraph (1) (as so designated)—
    • in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B) (as so redesignated)—
      • (i) by striking the first place it appears and inserting The; and
      • (ii) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period;
    • in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by striking the first place it appears and inserting The;
    • by striking in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated) and all that follows through in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following: “existed as of December 18, 1971.
      • For
    • in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated)—
      • (i) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period;
      • (ii) by striking and all that follows through and inserting the following: “in trust.
        • For purposes of subclause (I), the term sale
      • (iii) by striking and inserting the following: “1,280 acres.
        • (iii) Net revenues
          • Any net
      • (iv) by striking and inserting the following: “community needs.
        • (ii) The
      • (v) by striking and inserting the following:
        • (C) Conveyance to Municipal Corporation or the State in trust
          • (i) The Village Corporation
      • (vi) by adding at the end the following:
        • (iv) Cases in which conveyance shall not be required
          • Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, if a Village Corporation, prior to the date of enactment of the , conveyed to the State in trust all or a portion of the acreage of land required to be conveyed under this subparagraph for the establishment of a Municipal Corporation in the future, and a Municipal Corporation has not been established as of that date of enactment, on formal resolution by the Village Corporation and the residents of the Native village requesting dissolution of the trust, the trust shall be dissolved and title to the land shall revert to the Village Corporation, subject to subclause (III).
          • Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, as of the date of enactment of the , a Village Corporation shall not be required to convey any additional land in trust under this subparagraph for the establishment of a Municipal Corporation in the future.
          • In accordance with subsection (g)—
          • the reversion of land to a Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I) shall be subject to—
          • valid existing rights created by the applicable trust; and
          • any existing easements, rights-of-way necessary for public roadway access, or rights-of-way for access of holders of valid existing rights; and
          • the Village Corporation shall assume the obligations of the applicable trust with respect to any lease or other use agreement applicable to the land on reversion of the land to the Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I).