POLISCOPE
Back to feed
Part ofTribal Land →
HR681FEDERALin_committee

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

Original title: 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 LandLeasingFederal LawMashpee WampanoagWampanoag Tribe of Gay Head

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

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.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

Extending lease terms to 99 years allows these tribes to pursue long-term economic development projects and infrastructure investments on their reservation lands that were previously restricted by shorter lease limits.

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 99-year land leases on its reservation.

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

The tribe gains the legal authority to enter into 99-year land leases on land held in trust for them.

What changed

Current stage: in_committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill amends the of 1955 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 grants these tribes the same long-term leasing authority currently available to many other federally recognized tribes.

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

Extending lease terms to 99 years allows these tribes to pursue long-term economic development projects and infrastructure investments on their reservation lands that were previously restricted by shorter lease limits.

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 restricted to shorter terms under the 1955 Act.
Does this bill apply to all tribal land in the U.S.?
No, it specifically applies to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Connected Entities

organizationWampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)“Tribe whose trust land is affected by the leasing authority change.”Map →
otherLong-Term Leasing Act“The 1955 federal law being amended.”Map →
organizationMashpee Wampanoag Tribe“Tribe whose reservation land is affected by the leasing authority change.”Map →
organizationCommittee on Indian Affairs“Congressional committee that ordered the bill to be reported.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    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

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record