STREAMLINE ACT
This bill, introduced in the House as H.R. 5696 and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, seeks to strengthen tribal self-governance over land by allowing Indian Tribes with self-governance realty programs to use tribal appraisals in land acquisitions on or adjacent to their reservations. It requires the Interior Department to revise its appraisal regulations (part 151 of title 25, CFR) so that tribal appraisals can substitute for federal appraisals when the tribe has assumed realty/land management authority under an ISDEAA title I contract or title IV compact, and the land is within the reservation or contiguous to trust lands. The bill also amends the Indian Land Consolidation Act to formalize this tribal-appraisal process and to require the Interior to recognize tribal appraisals as sufficient for fair market value when criteria are met. Additional provisions establish transparency, oversight, and that the changes do not alter environmental or title-review requirements. In short, it aims to speed up and streamline land transactions by expanding trust land appraisal authority to eligible tribes, while preserving core fiduciary duties and standards.
Key Points
- 1Acceptance of Tribal Appraisals in Lieu of Federal Appraisals
- 2- The Secretary must revise Part 151 of 25 CFR within 1 year to permit using a Tribal appraisal for on-reservation or nearby trust land acquisitions if the tribe has ISDEAA title I or IV authority and can conduct valuations, and the land is within the reservation or contiguous to trust lands.
- 3Appraisal Standards and Fiduciary Duty
- 4- Tribal appraisals used under this framework must conform to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). The Secretary’s fiduciary and trust responsibilities are deemed satisfied when a tribal appraisal meets these criteria.
- 5Narrow, Clear Scope for Tribal Appraisals
- 6- In addition to Part 151 changes, the Indian Land Consolidation Act is amended to allow the Secretary to accept tribal appraisals for conveyances or acquisitions of trust or restricted lands, provided the tribe has self-governance authority and the appraisal meets USPAP. This reduces the need for Interior-reviewed appraisals in these situations.
- 7Ministerial Role and Policy Alignment
- 8- Interior’s role is limited to ministerial confirmation of tribal certifications. The Secretary must align internal manuals and guidance (e.g., AVSO guidance, Fee-to-Trust Handbook) with the new tribal-appraisal requirements.
- 9Transparency and Oversight
- 10- The Secretary must publish processing times comparing Tribal-appraisal and DOI-appraisal track records for fee-to-trust acquisitions. The Comptroller General must evaluate implementation, effects on processing time, quality, and litigation within 3 years.