# Plain Language Summary: Long-Term Leasing Act Amendment for Wampanoag Tribes

This bill makes a change to a 1955 federal law that controls how long Native American tribes can lease their land. Right now, tribes can only lease their reservation land for a maximum of 25 years. This bill would allow two specific Wampanoag tribes—the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)—to lease their land for up to 99 years instead.

Why does this matter? Longer leases make it much easier for tribes to develop their land and attract investment. When a business or developer knows they can lease land for nearly a century, they're more willing to invest money in building something substantial—whether that's housing, commercial projects, or other developments. A 25-year lease is often too short to justify major investments because the lease could end before the investment pays off. With 99-year leases, these tribes would have more flexibility to create economic opportunities and generate revenue from their land, similar to what non-tribal governments can do.

This change only applies to these two Massachusetts-based Wampanoag tribes and doesn't affect other tribes' leasing rules. The bill is essentially giving these specific tribes more control over how they use their own land and more tools to pursue economic development that works for their communities.

A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.

Markey, Edward J.

<p>This bill authorizes the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)&nbsp;to lease their land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years. Both tribes are located in Massachusetts.</p>