Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025
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Would amend the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 to expand which tribes and lands qualify for cooperative land management projects with federal agencies, reauthorizing the program through FY2031 and authorizing $15 million per year for the work.
The bill extends eligibility to Alaska Native corporations and removes the requirement that tribal and federal lands must be adjacent, instead allowing projects wherever federal land has special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to a tribe.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 to broaden both the eligible participants and the geographic scope of the program. It would expand the definition of "Indian forest land or rangeland" to include land in Alaska held by Alaska Native corporations, allowing those corporations to enter into contracts and agreements with the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture for land management projects. It would also remove the existing requirement that federal lands involved in a project must border or be adjacent to tribal lands, replacing that standard with a requirement that the federal land have special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the tribe. Additionally, the bill would allow projects to be carried out directly on Indian forest lands and rangelands, not just on federal lands.
It would reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2031 and authorize $15 million per year for FY2026 through FY2031. The bill also updates a reporting requirement so that Interior and USDA would report on program activities referencing the new 2025 amendments.
Key provisions
- 1Would expand the definition of 'Indian forest land or rangeland' to include land in Alaska held by Alaska Native corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
- 2Would remove the requirement that TFPA projects occur only on federal lands that border or are adjacent to tribal lands, replacing it with a standard requiring special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the tribe
- 3Would allow TFPA projects to be carried out directly on Indian forest lands and rangelands, not only on federal lands
- 4Would authorize $15,000,000 per year for FY2026 through FY2031 to carry out the Tribal Forest Protection Act
- 5Would update the congressional reporting requirement to reference the 2025 amendments rather than the original 2004 enactment date
Who would be affected
Federally recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native corporations holding land under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, which administer the cooperative land management contracts. Tribal and Alaska Native communities that face wildfire, disease, or other threats originating from federal lands — or on lands of cultural significance — are the primary beneficiaries.
Why it matters
Tribes and Alaska Native corporations that were previously excluded because their lands did not directly border federal lands could now access cooperative management tools to protect or restore forests and rangelands. The expanded geographic criterion and direct-on-tribal-land authority give communities more flexibility to address threats to lands they hold or that carry historical and cultural significance.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a) (Sec. 2)
Expands eligible participants to Alaska Native corporations, removes adjacency requirement for federal lands, allows projects on tribal lands directly, and reauthorizes funding through FY2031.
Agencies directed to act
Funding and costs
- $15,000,000
Carrying out the Tribal Forest Protection Act, including cooperative land management projects with tribes and Alaska Native corporations
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates S. 719 would cost $60 million over the 2025–2030 period and an additional $30 million after 2030, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
CBO estimates that implementing S. 719 would require $60 million in discretionary spending (spending that requires annual appropriations from Congress) over the 2025–2030 period, and an additional $30 million after 2030, based on the bill's authorization of $15 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031. The bill would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, and would not increase the deficit. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
Interior and USDA would enter into contracts and agreements with eligible Indian tribes and Alaska Native corporations using existing TFPA machinery. Agencies would apply the updated eligibility criteria — special geographic, historical, or cultural significance replacing the adjacency requirement — when reviewing proposals. The updated reporting requirement directs agencies to report to Congress on program activities. Funding flows through annual appropriations up to the authorized $15 million per year ceiling for FY2026–FY2031.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Held at the desk.
Official CRS summary
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This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) and expands the lands and activities eligible for inclusion in the TFPA.
Currently under the TFPA, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may enter into contracts and agreements with Indian tribes for tribes to carry out land management projects on federal lands. These projects are designed to protect Indian forest lands and rangelands from wildfire, disease, and other threats coming from federal lands. However, the TFPA is currently limited to projects on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands and rangelands under the jurisdiction of the tribe.
This bill removes certain limitations of the TFPA, first by expanding the definition of Indian forest land or rangeland to include land in Alaska that is held by Alaska Native corporations, thereby allowing these corporations to participate in TFPA projects.
Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that TFPA projects must occur on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands or rangelands. The bill instead requires the federal land involved to have a special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the tribe.
The bill allows TFPA projects to be carried out directly on Indian forest lands and rangelands. (Currently, the TFPA only applies to work conducted on federal lands and not on tribal lands.)
The bill also updates a requirement for Interior and USDA to report to Congress on TFPA activities.
Legislative subjects
Alaska; Alaska Natives and Hawaiians; Federal-Indian relations; Forests, forestry, trees; Indian lands and resources rights; Native Americans
Committee report
S. Rept. 119-23