,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ahgi  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bh1 #bjae ,mr4  
,b>rasso introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,indian ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to improve
 processes 9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior1 &
 = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is 
,act may be cit$ z ! ,int]ior           
,improvem5t ,act4  #b4 ,def9itions  7a7 
,9 g5]al ,! fir/ s5t5ce ( section #ai ( 
! ,act ( ,june #ah1 #aicd 7commonly kn[n
 z ! ,indian ,reorganization ,act7 7#be 
,u4,s4,c4 #dgi71 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by     
/rik+ ,! t]m & ins]t+ ,effective beg9n+ 
on ,june #ah1 #aicd1 ! t]m2 &  7#b7 by  
/rik+ any recogniz$ ,indian tribe n[ "u 
,f$]al jurisdiction & ins]t+ any f$]ally
 recogniz$ ,indian tribe4  7b7          
,retroactive protection ,to ! ext5t a   
tru/ acquisition by ! ,secret>y ( !     
,int]ior pursuant to ! ,act ( ,june #ah1
 #aicd 7commonly kn[n z ! ,indian       
,reorganization ,act7 7#be ,u4,s4,c4    
#dfa et seq471 is subject$ to a *all5ge 

bas$ on :e!r an ,indian tribe 0 f$]ally 
recogniz$ or "u ,f$]al jurisdiction on  
,june #ah1 #aicd1 t acquisition is      
ratifi$ & confirm$4  #c4 ,l& acquisition
 applications ,! ,act ( ,june #ah1 #aicd
 7commonly kn[n z ! ,indian             
,reorganization ,act71 is am5d$ by      
ins]t+ aft] section #e 7#be ,u4,s4,c4   
#dfe7 ! foll[+3  #e;,a4 ,l& acquisition 
applications  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is    
section3  7#a7 ,applicant ,! t]m        
applicant means an ,indian tribe or     
individual ,indian 7z def9$ 9 section #d
 ( ! ,indian ,self-,det]m9ation &       
,education ,assi/ance ,act 7#be         
,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b77 :o submits an        
application "u subsection 7b74  7#b7    
,application ,! t]m application means an
 application submitt$ to ! ,dep>tm5t by 
an ,indian tribe or individual ,indian  
"u subsection 7b74  7#c7 ,contigu\s ,!  
t]m contigu\s-- 7,a7 means #b p>cels (  
l& hav+ a common b\nd>y1 not)/&+ !      
exi/5ce ( non-navigable wat]s or a      
public road or "r-(-way2 &  7,b7        

includes p>cels t t\* at a po9t4  7#d7  
,contigu\s jurisdiction ,! t]m contigu\s
 jurisdiction means any c\nty1 c\nty    
equival5t1 or ,indian tribe ) au?ority &
 control ov] ! l& contigu\s to ! l& "u  
consid]ation 9 an application4  7#e7    
,c\nty & c\nty equival5t ,! t]ms c\nty &
 c\nty equival5t mean ! l>ge/ t]ritorial
 division = local gov]nm5t )9 a ,/ate ) 
! au?ority to ent] into en=ceable       
coop]ative agreem5ts ) ,indian tribes or
 individual ,indians1 z appropriate4    
7#f7 ,dep>tm5t ,! t]m ,dep>tm5t means ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior4  7#g7 ,economic 
impact ,! t]m economic impact means any 
anticipat$ co/s associat$ ) ! developm5t
 ( or activity on ! l& "u consid]ation 9
 an application1 includ+ associat$ co/s 
to a contigu\s jurisdiction = utilities1
 public works1 public safety1 roads1    
ma9t5ance1 & o!r public s]vice co/s4    
7#h7 ,f9al decision ,! t]m f9al decision
 means a decision t is f9al = !         
,dep>tm5t1 z det]m9$ or def9$ by !      
,secret>y4  7#i7 ,indian tribe ,! t]m   

,indian tribe has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9  
section #d ( ! ,indian                  
,self-,det]m9ation & ,education         
,assi/ance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74 
7#aj7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means !
 ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior4  7b7           
,applications  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an ,indian
 tribe or individual ,indian seek+ to h 
(f-res]vation fee or re/rict$ l& tak5   
into tru/ = ! b5efit ( t ,indian tribe  
or individual ,indian %all submit an    
application to ! ,secret>y at su* "t1 9 
su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z ?is
 section & ! ,secret>y require4  7#b7   
,requirem5ts ,! ,secret>y may approve   
complete applications describ$ 9        
p>agraph 7#a7 on a discretion>y basis1  
subject to ! condition t ! application  
includes--  7,a7 a writt5 reque/ =      
approval ( a tru/ acquisition by !      
,unit$ ,/ates = ! b5efit ( ! applicant2 
7,b7 ! legal "n ( ! applicant1 includ+1 
9 ! case ( an applicant t is an ,indian 
tribe1 ! tribal "n ( ! applicant z ! "n 
appe>s 9 ! li/ ( recogniz$ ,indian      

tribes publi%$ by ! ,secret>y 9 ! ,f$]al
 ,regi/] pursuant to section #ajd ( !   
,f$]ally ,recogniz$ ,indian ,tribe ,li/ 
,act ( #aiid 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dgi;a-#a72 
7,c7 a legal description ( ! l& to be   
acquir$2  7,d7 a description ( ! ne$ = !
 propos$ acquisition ( ! prop]ty2  7,e7 
a description ( ! purpose = :i* !       
prop]ty is to be us$2  7,f7 a legal     
in/rum5t to v]ify curr5t own]%ip1 su* z 
a de$2  7,g7 /atutory au?ority = !      
propos$ acquisition ( ! prop]ty2  7,h7 a
 bus9ess plan = managem5t ( ! l& to be  
acquir$1 if ! application is = bus9ess  
purposes2  7,i7 ! location ( ! l& to be 
acquir$ relative to ,/ate & res]vation  
b\nd>ies2 &  7,j7 a copy ( any          
coop]ative agreem5t betwe5 ! applicant &
 a contigu\s jurisdiction4  7#c7 ,f9al  
decision ,aft] consid]+ an application  
describ$ 9 ?is subsection & 9 accordance
 ) subsection 7c7 & any o!r applicable  
,f$]al law or regulation1 a f9al        
decision to approve or d5y ! complet$   
application %all be issu$4  7c7         

,/atutory notice & comm5t requirem5ts   
7#a7 ,notice & comm5t requirem5ts =     
initial applications  7,a7 ,notice  7i7 
,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] !    
date on :i* ! ,secret>y receives an     
initial application1 ! ,secret>y %all   
make t application1 :e!r complete or    
incomplete1 available to ! public on !  
website ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 subject to       
applicable ,f$]al privacy laws4  7ii7   
,additional notice requirem5t ,n lat]   
?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i* !       
,secret>y receives an initial           
application1 ! ,secret>y %all provide by
 c]tifi$ mail notice ( ! application to 
contigu\s jurisdictions4  7,b7 ,comm5t  
,ea* contigu\s jurisdiction notifi$ "u  
subp>agraph 7,a77ii7 %all h n few] ?an  
#cj days1 beg9n+ on ! date t ! contigu\s
 jurisdiction receives ! notice1 to     
comm5t on t initial application4  7#b7  
,notice requirem5t = any application    
update1 modification1 or )drawal  7,a7  
,9 g5]al ,if at any "t an application is
 updat$1 modifi$1 or )drawn1 n lat] ?an 

#e days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y  
receives notice ( t update1             
modification1 or )drawal1 ! ,secret>y   
%all make t in=mation available to !    
public on ! website ( ! ,dep>tm5t1      
subject to any applicable ,f$]al privacy
 laws4  7,b7 ,inclusion ,if an          
application has be5 updat$ or modifi$ 9 
any way1 ! notice describ$ 9 subp>agraph
 7,a7 %all include a description ( !    
*anges made & ! updat$ or modifi$       
application1 :e!r complete or           
incomplete1 available on ! website ( !  
,dep>tm5t1 subject to any applicable    
,f$]al privacy laws4  7#c7 ,notice &    
comm5t requirem5ts = complet$           
applications  7,a7 ,notice  7i7 ,9 g5]al
 ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i*
 ! ,secret>y receives a complet$        
application1 ! ,secret>y %all make t    
application available to ! public on !  
website ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 subject to any   
applicable ,f$]al privacy laws4  7ii7   
,additional notice requirem5ts ,n lat]  
?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i* !       

,secret>y receives a complet$           
application1 ! ,secret>y %all provide by
 c]tifi$ mail notice ( ! application to 
contigu\s jurisdictions4  7iii7         
,publication 9 f$]al regi/] ,n lat] ?an 
#e days aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y  
receives a complet$ application1 !      
,secret>y %all publi% 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/]
 notice ( ! complet$ application4  7,b7 
,comm5t ,contigu\s jurisdictions %all h 
n few] ?an #cj days1 beg9n+ on ! date on
 :i* ! contigu\s jurisdiction receives  
notice "u subp>agraph 7,a77ii71 to      
comm5t on t complet$ application4  7#d7 
,notice ( decision  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n    
lat] ?an #e days aft] a f9al decision to
 approve or d5y an application is issu$1
 ! ,secret>y %all issue a notice (      
decision & make ! notice ( decision     
available to ! public on ! website ( !  
,dep>tm5t4  7,b7 ,publication 9 f$]al   
regi/] ,n lat] ?an #e days aft] a f9al  
decision to approve or d5y an           
application is issu$1 ! ,secret>y %all  
publi% 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] ! notice (    

decision describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a74   
7d7 ,enc\rag+ local coop]ation  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all enc\rage1 b may 
n require1 applicants to ent] into      
coop]ative agreem5ts ) contigu\s        
jurisdictions4  7#b7 ,coop]ative        
agreem5ts  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y   
%all give weight & pref]5ce to an       
application ) a coop]ative agreem5t     
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a74  7,b7 ,t]ms ( 
agreem5t ,a coop]ative agreem5t describ$
 9 p>agraph 7#a7 may include t]ms relat+
 to mitigation1 *anges 9 l& use1 dispute
 resolution1 fees1 & o!r t]ms det]m9$ by
 ! p>ties to be appropriate4  7,c7      
,submission ( coop]ative agreem5t  7i7  
,9 g5]al ,if an applicant submits to !  
,secret>y a coop]ative agreem5t or      
multiple coop]ative agreem5ts execut$   
betwe5 ! applicant & contigu\s          
jurisdictions1 ! ,secret>y %all issue a 
f9al decision to approve or d5y a       
complete application n lat] ?an--  7,i7 
#fj days aft] ! date ( completion ( !   
review process "u ! ,national           

,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 describ$ 9     
clause 7ii72 or  7,,ii7 if t review     
process is n applicable1 #cj days aft] !
 date on :i* a complete application is  
receiv$ by ! ,secret>y4  7ii7 ,timel9e  
,completion ( ! review process "u !     
,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act (  
#aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47     
describ$ 9 clause 7i7 may ref] to--     
7,i7 ! issuance ( a categorical         
exclusion det]m9ation 9 accordance )    
section #f4bjd ( title #dj1 ,code (     
,f$]al ,regulations 7or successor       
regulations72  7,,ii7 an environm5tal   
assessm5t f9d+ ( no significant impact 9
 accordance ) section #f4bjf ( title    
#dj1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or    
successor regulations72 or  7,,iii7 !   
issuance ( a record ( decision 9        
accordance ) section #f4bjh ( title #dj1
 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or        
successor regulations74  7iii7 ,effect (
 failure to issue timely f9al decision  
,if ! ,secret>y fails to issue a f9al   

decision by ! date describ$ 9 clause    
7i71 ! application %all be--  7,i7 deem$
 approv$ on an automatic basis2 &       
7,,ii7 treat$ z a f9al decision4  7,d7  
,coop]ative agreem5t n submitt$  7i7 ,9 
g5]al ,if an applicant does n submit to 
! ,secret>y a coop]ative agreem5t       
execut$ betwe5 ! applicant & contigu\s  
jurisdictions1 ! ,secret>y %all issue a 
writt5 det]m9ation ( mitigation by !    
date t is n lat] ?an #cj days aft] a    
complete application is receiv$ by !    
,secret>y1 :i* %all--  7,i7 describe    
:e!r any economic impacts on contigu\s  
jurisdictions h be5 mitigat$ to ! ext5t 
practicable2 &  7,,ii7 expla9 ! basis ( 
t det]m9ation4  7ii7 ,det]m9ation (     
mitigation ,! ,secret>y %all consid] a  
det]m9ation ( mitigation 9 mak+ a f9al  
decision to approve or d5y an           
application1 b t det]m9ation %all n halt
 or unduly delay ! regul> process+ ( an 
application4  7iii7 ,consid]ations ,9   
mak+ a det]m9ation ( mitigation describ$
 9 clause 7i71 ! ,secret>y %all take    

into consid]ation--  7,i7 ! anticipat$  
economic impact ( approv+ an application
 on contigu\s jurisdictions2 &  7,,ii7  
:e!r ! abs5ce ( a coop]ative agreem5t is
 attributable to ! failure ( any        
contigu\s jurisdiction to "w 9 good fai?
 to rea* an agreem5t ) ! applicant4     
7iv7 ,notice ,! ,secret>y %all provide  
by c]tifi$ mail a copy ( ! det]m9ation (
 mitigation describ$ 9 clause 7i7 to !  
applicant & contigu\s jurisdictions n   
less ?an #e days aft] a det]m9ation (   
mitigation is issu$4  7v7 ,good fai?    
protection ,failure to submit a         
coop]ative agreem5t %all n prejudice an 
application if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t ! 
failure to submit is attributable to !  
failure ( any contigu\s jurisdiction to 
"w 9 good fai? to rea* an agreem5t4     
7#c7 ,reciprocal notice & comm5t ,!     
,secret>y %all also enc\rage contigu\s  
jurisdictions to engage 9 local         
coop]ation ?r\gh reciprocal notice &    
comm5t proc$ures1 p>ticul>ly ) reg>d to 
*anges 9 l& use4  7e7 ,implem5tation    

7#a7 ,consultation ,n lat] ?an #fj days 
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section1 ! 
,secret>y %all initiate consultation )  
,indian tribes reg>d+ ! implem5tation ( 
?is section4  7#b7 ,summ>y ,n lat] ?an  
#ahj days aft] ! date on :i* !          
consultation describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 is
 initiat$1 ! ,secret>y %all issue a     
summ>y ( ! consultation & ! summ>y %all 
be publi%$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/]4  7#c7    
,rulemak+ ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft] !   
date on :i* ! summ>y describ$ 9 p>agraph
 7#b7 is publi%$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/]1 !  
,secret>y %all1 ?r\gh a rulemak+ "u     
section #eec ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates  
,code1 modify exi/+ regulations1        
guidance1 rules1 & policy /atem5ts1 z   
necess>y to c>ry out ?is section4  7f7  
,judicial review  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an     
applicant or contigu\s jurisdiction may 
seek review ( a f9al decision4  7#b7    
,adm9i/rative review ,an applicant or   
contigu\s jurisdiction may seek review 9
 a ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt only aft] 
exhau/+ all available adm9i/rative      

rem$ies4  4  #d4 ,effect  7a7 ,o!r l&   
det]m9ations ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act 7or an    
am5dm5t made by ?is ,act7 impacts any   
o!r ,f$]al ,indian l& det]m9ation4  7b7 
,effect on o!r laws  ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act   
7or ! am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act7        
affects-- 7#a7 ! application or effect (
 any ,f$]al law o!r ?an ! ,act ( ,june  
#ah1 #aicd 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dfa et seq472
 or  7#b7 any limitation on ! au?ority (
 ! ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior "u any ,f$]al 
law or regulation o!r ?an ! ,act ( ,june
 #ah1 #aicd 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dfa et      
seq474