STREAMLINE ACT
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5696
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-19: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-14T19:53:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to enhance Tribal self-governance by allowing qualifying Indian Tribes to use their own appraisals for acquiring land into trust status when the land is on or near their reservation, instead of requiring federal appraisals.
Key Provisions
- Regulatory Changes: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to revise 25 CFR Part 151 within one year to accept "Tribal appraisals" (valuations prepared under an Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act contract or compact that meet Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) in place of federal appraisals for on-reservation or contiguous trust land acquisitions.
- Appraisal Acceptance Criteria: Applies only to Tribes with self-governance realty programs that include real estate services and valuation authority; the Department of the Interior's role is limited to ministerial confirmation.
- Amendment to Indian Land Consolidation Act: Adds a new subsection to 25 U.S.C. 2218 stating that the Secretary shall accept such Tribal appraisals as sufficient for fair market value in conveyances or acquisitions meeting the criteria.
- Fiduciary Compliance: Deems acceptance of qualifying Tribal appraisals as satisfying the Secretary's fiduciary and trust responsibilities regarding valuation.
- Transparency Measures: Requires tracking and public reporting of processing times for fee-to-trust acquisitions using Tribal versus federal appraisals, plus a Comptroller General evaluation within three years on implementation effects.
- Limitations: Does not alter requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, title evidence, or other notice rules; preserves existing authorities under the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Modifies 25 CFR Part 151 to shift from mandatory federal appraisal review to acceptance of qualifying Tribal appraisals for specified acquisitions.
- Amends section 219 of the Indian Land Consolidation Act (25 U.S.C. 2218) to prohibit requiring Department of the Interior appraisals when Tribal criteria are met and to mandate acceptance of conforming Tribal valuations.
- Updates Department manuals and guidance to align with these changes.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Reduces workload for the Department of the Interior's Appraisal and Valuation Services Office and streamlines fee-to-trust processes.
- Citizens and Tribes: May accelerate land acquisitions for Tribes with self-governance programs, supporting expanded land bases without altering environmental or title review steps.
- No direct effects on international relations are addressed in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Indian Tribes operating self-governance realty programs under title I or IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
- The Secretary of the Interior and Department of the Interior offices.
- The Comptroller General for evaluation duties.
- Tribes and individuals involved in on-reservation or contiguous trust land transactions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Strengthens Tribal authority over realty functions by treating qualified Tribal appraisals as equivalent to federal ones for valuation purposes.
- Explicitly frames acceptance as fulfilling federal trust responsibilities, which may limit future challenges based on valuation disputes.
- Maintains separation of appraisal acceptance from other regulatory requirements, preserving existing environmental and procedural safeguards.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-19: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
- 2025-10-06: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-10-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Strengthening Tribal Real Estate Authority and Modernizing Land for Indigenous Nation Expansion Act — issued 2025-10-06 — PDF (6 pages)