Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025
Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill extends and expands the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA), a program that allows Native American tribes to work with the federal government on land management projects. Currently, the TFPA lets tribes manage nearby federal lands to protect their own forests and rangelands from wildfires, disease, and other threats. The bill reauthorizes the program through 2031 and removes some restrictions on which lands and tribes can participate. Most notably, it expands eligibility to include Alaska Native corporations, not just tribes. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily benefits Native American tribes and Alaska Native corporations that own or manage forest and rangeland.
It also affects federal land management agencies (the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture), which work with these groups to carry out protective land management projects. Indirectly, it may affect communities that benefit from reduced wildfire risk and improved forest health. **Current Status** The bill has passed the Senate and is now awaiting action in the House of Representatives. It was sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
CRS Official Summary
Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025This 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.
Latest Action
Held at the desk.