North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025

This bill lets North Dakota trade certain state “trust” lands that sit inside Indian reservations for other federal lands in the state of equal value. The aim is to return land and mineral rights to Tribal communities and finish old land grant issues from statehood. Selected federal lands are put on hold from new mining, leasing, or land claims while the swap is processed. Tribes can ask that the traded state lands inside reservation boundaries be taken into federal trust and added to the reservation right away. Existing leases, permits, and rights-of-way on these lands carry over to the new owner. Protected areas, military sites, lands already within reservations, and some listed areas can’t be picked for the swap. None of this changes Tribal treaty rights or land already held in trust, and it doesn’t affect ongoing court cases. Before any transfer, both sides must check for hazardous materials.

Land trades must be of about equal value. Independent appraisals are used, with simpler methods allowed for low-value parcels. If values don’t match, a payment or a running “ledger” can make up the difference, but the extra can’t be more than 25% of the federal parcel’s value; ledger imbalances must be settled within set time limits. The Interior Department has 180 days to approve or reject the state’s picks, and then must start the transfer within 60 days. Grazing can continue for the rest of the lease term, and ranchers can be compensated for range improvements if terms change.

Key points

• Who is affected: Tribal communities in North Dakota, state trust land managers, ranchers with grazing permits, and current leaseholders on affected lands.
• What changes: North Dakota can swap state trust lands inside reservations for other federal lands of equal value; lands inside reservations can be placed into federal trust for Tribes on request; chosen federal lands are paused from new claims during the process.
• How value is set: Independent appraisals; limited “make-up” payments or ledger entries; deadlines to settle imbalances.
• What’s off-limits: Protected, military, and already-withdrawn lands, lands in reservations, and certain listed areas.
• When: After enactment; Interior has 180 days to decide on selections and must begin the transfer within 60 days after approval.