# Understanding the Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act

This bill gives Native American tribes new protections and purchasing power over federal public lands that have cultural, religious, or historical significance to them. Essentially, it says that when the federal government wants to sell off public land—whether it's managed by the Interior Department or the Forest Service—it has to first check with any tribes that have connections to that land, and those tribes get a chance to buy it before anyone else.

The bill defines "cultural sites" broadly to include sacred sites, historic properties, and landscapes important to tribal religious practices, ceremonies, or traditional food and medicine gathering. If a tribe has historic ties to a piece of land, a former reservation there, or treaty rights to use it, they become an "interested tribe" in any sale. Before selling the land, federal agencies must consult with these tribes in writing and get their agreement that the sale won't harm tribal rights or block access to reservations. If a tribe wants to buy the land at fair market value, they have 60 days to submit a bid, and the government must sell it to them. If multiple tribes bid, they get up to 180 days to work out a deal together. If they can't agree, the land can't be sold for five years, giving tribes time to figure out their next steps.

When tribes do buy land through this process, it automatically becomes trust land held by the federal government for the tribe's benefit—similar to reservation land. The bill also updates existing federal land laws to require consultation with tribes whenever the government exchanges, sells, or transfers public lands, making tribal interests part of the standard decision-making process rather than an afterthought.

Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land Act

Grijalva, Raúl M.

Advancing Tribal Parity on Public Land ActThis bill addresses tribal interests in the disposal and management of public land.Specifically, the bill prohibits the federal government from disposing of public land or National Forest System land unless the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture (USDA) determines, through consultation with any interested Indian tribe, that such disposal would not impact the rights and interests of any interested tribe and would not impair access to a reservation.Interested Indian tribe means an Indian tribe with (1) historic, precontact, cultural, or religious connection to a cultural site located on the tract of public land; (2) a former reservation located on the tract of public land; or (3) treaty rights or other reserved rights associated with the tract of public land.Interior and USDA must, prior to conducting a sale of a tract of public land, notify all tribes of the availability of land for sale. Further, Interior and USDA must sell the tract of land to an interested Indian tribe that submits a bid at fair market value. Land acquired by an interested tribe shall be taken into trust by Interior for the benefit of the tribe.Additionally, the bill revises various public land provisions, including to add the interests of tribes to the list of considerations for land exchanges.The bill also requires each public land advisory board to include at least one representative of an interested Indian tribe.