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Congress·Reported·S. 236

A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.

Tribal Land: Longer Leases for Wampanoag Tribes

This bill is currently moving through the Senate after the Committee on Indian Affairs voted to support it. It is now waiting for a full vote by the Senate. There are no other scheduled actions at this time.

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law
Could go either way

This is a common type of bill that usually gets bipartisan support, but it is currently only in the early stages of the Senate.

Key Points

  • This bill allows two Wampanoag tribes in Massachusetts to lease their land for up to 99 years. Currently, many tribal lands are restricted to much shorter lease terms under federal law.
  • The change helps the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head. It gives them the same leasing power that many other tribes across the country already have.
  • Longer leases make it easier for tribes to attract businesses and build housing. Banks and investors are more likely to fund projects when they know the land can be used for a long time.
  • This policy aims to boost economic development and self-reliance for these tribal communities. It removes a federal hurdle that has made it harder for them to manage their own property.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

4 milestones4 actions
May 20, 2026Senate

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.

Dec 17, 2025Senate

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Jan 23, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced in Senate

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.

News

No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.

Bill NumberS 236
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(2)
D: 1R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.