H.R. 5696: Strengthening Tribal Real Estate Authority and Modernizing Land for Indigenous Nation Expansion Act

This bill, known as the Strengthening Tribal Real Estate Authority and Modernizing Land for Indigenous Nation Expansion Act, aims to enhance the self-governance of Native American tribes by simplifying the process for these tribes to acquire land in trust. Here are the key aspects of the bill:

Purpose of the Bill

The bill is designed to improve the ability of Indian Tribes to manage their land acquisitions by allowing them to use their own appraisals instead of requiring federal appraisals for land that is either within their reservation or near their existing trust lands.

Key Provisions

• Acceptance of Tribal Appraisals: The Secretary of the Interior will be required to accept appraisals conducted by Indian Tribes if certain conditions are met. These conditions include that the tribe must have a self-governance contract under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) and must handle realty services, including valuations.
• Appraisal Requirements: For a Tribal appraisal to be accepted, it must conform to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, ensuring that the appraisal meets established quality standards.
• Regulatory Changes: The Secretary will need to revise specific federal regulations related to land acquisition to reflect these changes within one year of the bill's enactment.
• Implementation Monitoring: The bill mandates tracking and publishing data on the processing times for fee-to-trust acquisitions using Tribal appraisals compared to federal appraisals. Additionally, it requires a report three years after enactment to evaluate the impact of these changes.
• No Alteration to Other Regulations: The bill does not change existing environmental compliance requirements or other relevant legal reviews that are necessary for land transactions.

Appraisal Definitions and Certification

The bill defines key terms such as:

• ISDEAA: Referring to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
• Self-governance Realty Program: A program under which a tribe conducts land management activities recognized by the Department of the Interior.
• Tribal Appraisal: An appraisal prepared for a tribe by its personnel, meeting professional standards.

Amendments to Existing Laws

It also amends the Indian Land Consolidation Act to ensure that for land acquisitions by an Indian Tribe, federal appraisal requirements are waived if the tribe meets specific criteria outlined in the bill.

Transparency and Reporting

The Secretary of the Interior is required to maintain transparency by tracking the time it takes to process acquisitions with both Tribal and federal appraisals. A separate evaluation by the Comptroller General will assess the overall impact of the legislation on land acquisition processes.

Relevant Companies

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