Tracking federal and North Dakota legislation affecting Tribal Nations and Native communities.

Federal and state legislation includes bills that could affect Tribal Nations and Native communities in areas including food assistance, education, Tribal sovereignty, housing, economic development, land and natural resources, public safety and community services.

Food and Nutrition

Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition. H.R. 9425, the Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act of 2026, was introduced June 24, 2026, by Ms. Davids of Kansas and was referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

This bill would give Tribal Nations a stronger voice in how federal food assistance programs that serve Native communities are managed. It would also help prevent food shortages by requiring the federal government to work more closely with tribes before making major decisions.

The bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to consult with Tribal Nations before making important decisions about food distribution on reservations, give tribes more input when selecting companies that deliver food, allow tribes to purchase food directly during supply chain disruptions if federal deliveries are delayed and improve emergency planning so food reaches Native communities more quickly during shortages.

SNAP Administration. S. 4832 was introduced June 18, 2026.

S. 4832 would give Tribal Nations the option to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for their own communities instead of having the federal government manage it. The goal is to give tribes more control over how food assistance is delivered.

The bill would give tribes more authority over food assistance programs, support Tribal self-determination by allowing tribes to manage SNAP if they choose and allow food assistance to be administered in ways that better meet the needs of Native communities.

Education

Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act. S. 4869, the Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026, was introduced June 23, 2026, by Mr. Heinrich and was read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

This bill would study how to better fund Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools so they can offer competitive pay, attract and keep qualified teachers, and provide Native students with the same educational opportunities as other public schools.

The bill would review how BIE schools are funded, identify changes needed so teachers and staff can receive pay and benefits comparable to other schools and recommend ways to improve funding for tribal and BIE-operated schools, especially in rural areas.

Native American Education Opportunity Act. H.R. 84, the Native American Education Opportunity Act, was introduced Jan. 3, 2025, by Andy Biggs.

H.R. 84 would give eligible Native families more education choices by allowing Tribal Nations to create Education Savings Account (ESA) programs. Families could use those funds for approved educational expenses such as private school tuition, tutoring, online learning, Native language programs, vocational training, or future college costs. The bill would also allow new Bureau of Indian Education charter schools on Tribal lands.

The bill gives Tribal Nations the option to offer Education Savings Accounts to eligible students, expands educational choices beyond traditional Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools and allows families to customize how education funds are used for their children’s learning. Supporters say it increases educational flexibility and parental choice, while some opponents worry it could reduce funding available to existing BIE and tribally operated schools.

Tribal Sovereignty

Tribal Trust Lands. H.R. 5257, to reaffirm the trust status of land taken into trust by the United States pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934, for the benefit of an Indian Tribe that was federally recognized on the date that the land was taken into trust, was introduced Sept. 10, 2025, by Mr. Cole and was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

H.R. 5257 would confirm that land already placed into federal trust for federally recognized Tribal Nations remains trust land, helping protect it from future legal challenges and providing certainty for tribes.

The bill protects the legal status of existing Tribal trust lands, provides greater certainty for Tribal governments planning housing, infrastructure, and economic development and helps avoid court disputes over whether certain trust lands are valid.

Tribal Regulatory Reform. H.R. 8954, the Tribal Regulatory Reform Implementation Act of 2026, was introduced May 21, 2026, by Mr. Hurd of Colorado and was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

H.R. 8954 would streamline how the federal government works with Tribal Nations by transferring certain administrative responsibilities to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The goal is to reduce red tape, improve coordination, and make it easier for tribes to access federal programs and support.

The bill reduces unnecessary bureaucracy for Tribal governments, makes it easier for tribes to work with the federal government and supports more efficient economic development and self-governance by simplifying administrative processes.

Tribal Labor Sovereignty. H.R. 1723, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025, was introduced Feb. 27, 2025, by Mr. Moolenaar, for himself, Mr. Cole, Mr. Fulcher and Mr. LaMalfa, and was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R. 1723 would recognize Tribal governments as sovereign employers under federal labor law, meaning Tribal governments and many Tribal-owned businesses on Tribal lands would generally no longer be subject to the National Labor Relations Board or the National Labor Relations Act in the same way private employers are.

The bill treats Tribal governments more like state and local governments under federal labor law and supports Tribal sovereignty by allowing tribes to oversee labor relations for their own governmental enterprises on Tribal lands. It has generated debate: supporters say it strengthens Tribal self-governance, while opponents argue it would remove certain federal labor protections, including the right to file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, for some employees of Tribal enterprises.

Housing and Economic Development

Native American Housing. H.R. 8092, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026, was introduced March 26, 2026, and was referred to the Committee on Financial Services.

This bill would update and strengthen federal housing programs for Tribal Nations, giving tribes more flexibility and resources to build, repair, and manage affordable housing in Native communities.

The bill helps address housing shortages on reservations and in Native communities, gives tribes more control over how federal housing funds are used, supports construction, repairs, infrastructure, and housing development and aims to make federal housing programs easier for tribes to use.

Tribal Tax and Investment Reform. H.R. 7705, the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act of 2026, was introduced Feb. 25, 2026, by Ms. Moore of Wisconsin and was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R. 7705 would update federal tax laws so Tribal governments are treated more like state and local governments, making it easier for tribes to finance housing, infrastructure, businesses, and economic development projects.

The bill gives Tribal governments better access to tax-exempt bonds and tax credits, helps tribes build more affordable housing and public infrastructure, encourages private investment and job creation in Tribal communities and supports Tribal self-determination by giving tribes access to many of the same financial tools available to states and local governments.

Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity. H.R. 7396, the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, was introduced Feb. 5, 2026, by Rep. Sharice Davids. The bill passed the U.S. House on June 24, 2026, and is awaiting consideration in the Senate.

H.R. 7396 would make the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Native American Affairs a permanent part of the agency, helping Native entrepreneurs and Tribal businesses access loans, grants, training, and other small business resources.

The bill would make sure Native entrepreneurs have a dedicated office within the SBA, improve access to business funding, technical assistance, and training, support Tribal economic development and Native-owned small businesses and require the SBA to report on how well it is serving Tribal communities.

Land and Natural Resources

North Dakota Trust Lands. H.R. 2252, the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act of 2026, was introduced March 21, 2025, by Rep. Julie Fedorchak. The bill passed the U.S. House on May 19, 2026, and was sent to the Senate for consideration.

H.R. 2252 would allow North Dakota, the federal government, and Tribal Nations to voluntarily exchange certain lands and mineral rights to reduce the “checkerboard” pattern of land ownership. The goal is to make land easier to manage while restoring some lands and minerals to Tribal Nations.

The bill helps consolidate scattered land ownership, restores certain lands and mineral interests to Tribal Nations, makes it easier to manage land, develop infrastructure, and support economic development and supports more efficient management of state trust lands and Tribal lands through voluntary, equal-value land exchanges.

Tribal Forest Protection. S. 719, the Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025, was introduced Feb. 25, 2025, by Ms. Murkowski. The bill passed the Senate and is awaiting further action from the House.

S. 719 would expand Tribal authority to work with the federal government to protect and restore forests, reduce wildfire risks, and use traditional Indigenous land management practices like cultural burning.

The bill gives tribes more opportunities to lead forest restoration projects, helps protect Tribal lands and nearby federal forests from wildfires and recognizes the value of Indigenous knowledge in caring for forests and natural resources.

Voting Rights and Identification

Respect Tribal IDs. S. 4666, the Respect Tribal IDs Act of 2026, was introduced June 2, 2026, by Mr. Luján and was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

This bill would require Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers to receive training on Tribal sovereignty and Tribal IDs so they can properly recognize valid Tribal identification and treat Tribal citizens fairly during immigration and identity checks.

The bill improves recognition of Tribal IDs by DHS officers, requires training on Tribal governments and sovereignty and helps reduce the risk of Tribal citizens being wrongly questioned or detained because their Tribal ID is not understood.

Public Safety and MMIP

BADGES for Native Communities. H.R. 1010, the BADGES for Native Communities Act, was introduced Feb. 5, 2025, by Ms. Leger Fernandez, for herself, Mr. Newhouse and Ms. Davids of Kansas.

H.R. 1010 would improve how federal law enforcement tracks and responds to missing and murdered Native people, while giving Tribal and federal law enforcement better tools, information, and coordination.

The bill would create Tribal facilitators to help improve reporting of missing and unidentified Native people, provide grants to improve coordination between Tribal, state, local, and federal law enforcement, study problems with evidence collection and processing in Indian Country, look at staffing needs for law enforcement serving Native communities and provide resources and coordination for Tribal and BIA law enforcement officers.

Health and Community Services

Veterinary Services in Rural Communities. H.R. 8473, the Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act, was introduced April 23, 2026.

H.R. 8473 would help Tribal communities access veterinary services, especially vaccinations and spay/neuter services, to prevent diseases that can spread between animals and people, such as rabies.

The bill helps prevent rabies and other diseases from spreading, could provide veterinary services in rural Tribal communities where access may be limited, could allow Tribal governments to receive funding through existing Indian Self-Determination programs if IHS creates the services and supports a “One Health” approach, recognizing the connection between human, animal, and environmental health.

Native Elders. S. 870, the Native ELDER Act, was introduced March 5, 2025, by Ms. Murkowski.

The Native ELDER Act would strengthen federal programs that support Native elders, including services that help older Native people remain healthy, independent, connected to their communities, and able to age with dignity.

The bill would update the Older Americans Act to better address the needs of Native elders and improve how programs serving them are supported and delivered.

Indian Boarding Schools

Truth and Healing Commission. H.R. 7325, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026, was introduced Feb. 3, 2026, by Mr. Cole, for himself and Ms. Davids of Kansas.

H.R. 7325 would create a national Truth and Healing Commission to investigate and document the history and lasting impacts of Indian boarding school policies and make recommendations for how the federal government can support healing.

The bill would investigate the history of Indian boarding schools and the policies behind them, document the experiences and impacts on Native people and communities, hear from survivors and their descendants, make recommendations to the federal government and support efforts focused on truth, healing, and accountability.

North Dakota Legislature

Tribal Consultation. North Dakota House Bill 1455 was introduced Jan. 6, 2025, by Rep. C. Brown, Sen. Boschee, Rep. Davis, Rep. Dobervich, Rep. Finley-DeVille, Sen. Hogan, Rep. Holle, Rep. Ista, Sen. Marcellais and Sen. Patten. The bill passed the House but did not pass the Senate.

HB 1455 would have required North Dakota to consult with Tribal Nations before moving forward with legislation that could directly affect them. The goal was to make sure tribes had a chance to share their input before lawmakers made decisions—not to give tribes the power to approve or reject bills.

The bill gives Tribal Nations a formal voice in the legislative process, supports government-to-government relationships between the state and tribes and helps lawmakers understand how proposed laws could affect Native communities before voting.

Last updated: August 13, 2026