North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2026

The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2025 proposes a voluntary land exchange process between the State of North Dakota and the federal government. Currently, the state owns thousands of acres of "trust lands" and mineral rights that are located within the boundaries of Native American reservations. Because these parcels are scattered and subject to complex jurisdictional rules, they are often difficult for the state to develop for revenue or for tribes to manage as part of their sovereign territory.

Under this proposal, North Dakota would be authorized to relinquish its state-owned lands and minerals within reservation boundaries to the Department of the Interior. In exchange, the state would select unappropriated federal lands of equal value elsewhere in North Dakota, primarily those managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The lands given up by the state would then be held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of the respective Indian tribes, helping to consolidate tribal land bases and reduce fragmented ownership.

For everyday citizens, the bill aims to streamline energy and resource development on state-owned lands to generate more consistent revenue for North Dakota’s public schools and institutions. While supporters view the exchange as a way to bolster both tribal sovereignty and state education budgets, some conservation and hunting groups have expressed concerns that trading away federal public lands could potentially reduce public access for recreation, such as hunting and camping, depending on how the new state-owned parcels are managed.