S236FEDERALin_committee

Congress authorizes 99-year land leases for Mashpee Wampanoag and Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head

Original 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.

May 20, 2026

Tribal Land Leasing Federal Land Policy Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Last action

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.May 20, 2026

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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The Frame

What this does

Extending lease terms to 99 years provides these tribes with the same legal authority as other tribes to pursue long-term economic development and infrastructure projects on their reservation and trust lands.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

The tribe gains the legal authority to enter into land leases of up to 99 years on its reservation land.

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

The tribe gains the legal authority to enter into land leases of up to 99 years on land held in trust for the tribe.

What changed

Current stage: in_committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill amends the to allow the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to enter into land leases for up to 99 years. This change removes the current federal restriction that limits lease durations for these tribal lands.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this bill change for the affected tribes?

It allows the tribes to sign land leases for up to 99 years, whereas previously they were limited by the terms of the 1955 .

Which specific tribes are included in this legislation?

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

News Coverage

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Related Legislation

Federal Bill

Bill authorizes 99-year land leases for Mashpee Wampanoag and Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head reservations

This bill amends the Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955 to allow the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to enter into l

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Standardization of Tribal Leasing Rights

This bill continues a trend of Congress amending the 1955 Act to grant individual tribes the same 99-year leasing authority that has been granted to other tribes in recent years.

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

Connected Entities

organizationWampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)“Tribe whose trust land is affected by the leasing authorization.”Map →

organizationMashpee Wampanoag Tribe“Tribe whose reservation land is affected by the leasing authorization.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Indian Affairs“Senate committee that ordered the bill to be reported favorably.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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