North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023

North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023

This bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to exchange, at the election of North Dakota, certain federal land for certain state land of substantially equal value.

Specifically, subject to valid existing rights, if North Dakota elects to relinquish a parcel of state land located wholly or partially within the boundaries of any Indian reservation, the bill authorizes North Dakota to select one or more parcels of federal land of substantially equivalent value within that state.

No later than 60 days after Interior approves North Dakota's selection of federal land, Interior shall initiate the actions necessary to convey the federal land to the state.

As consideration for the conveyance of the federal land, North Dakota shall concurrently relinquish and convey the state land to Interior. Land conveyed to Interior that is within the boundaries of a reservation becomes part of the reservation on request of the tribe.

Bill 118 s 1088, also known as the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The purpose of this bill is to address the issue of incomplete trust land exchanges in North Dakota.

The bill aims to facilitate the completion of land exchanges between the state of North Dakota and the federal government by providing a framework for resolving any outstanding issues. These exchanges involve transferring ownership of certain lands from the federal government to the state of North Dakota, in order to promote economic development and natural resource management.

The North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023 outlines a process for finalizing these exchanges, including conducting surveys, appraisals, and negotiations to determine the fair market value of the lands involved. The bill also establishes a timeline for completing these exchanges and sets forth guidelines for ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the process. Overall, the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2023 seeks to streamline the land exchange process in North Dakota, in order to promote responsible land management and economic growth in the state. It is currently under review by Congress and may be subject to amendments before being passed into law.