WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 43 · 119th Congress · Public Law 119-23

Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025

Became lawNative Americans
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Passed HouseFeb 4, 2025
Passed SenateJun 18, 2025
To PresidentJul 3, 2025
Became lawJul 7, 2025

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 43 changed 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

43 U.S.C. 1613

  • (c) new · Sec. 2(1), Sec. 2(2), Sec. 2(3), Sec. 2(4), Sec. 2(5) · see the words
What the words changed: every change, in place (15)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what was struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)renumberedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(1)

    The bill says: by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting appropriately;

  2. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(2)

    (c) Conveyance of certain land by Village Corporation.—(1) In general.— Each patent

    The bill says: in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking "(c) Each patent" and inserting the following:

  3. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(3)

    The bill says: by striking "section 14(c) of this Act" and inserting "this subsection"; and

  4. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(3)

    (2) Technical assistance.—(A) In general.— There are authorized

    The bill says: by striking "There is authorized" and inserting the following:

  5. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(2)(A)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(4)

    The bill says: in paragraph (2)(A) (as so redesignated), in the second sentence, by striking "The Secretary" and inserting the following:

  6. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    The bill says: by striking "the" the first place it appears and inserting "The"; and

  7. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    The bill says: by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period;

  8. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)(D)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    The bill says: in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by striking "the" the first place it appears and inserting "The";

  9. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    The bill says: by striking "existed as of" in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated) and all that follows through "for" in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following: “existed as of December 18, 1971.

  10. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)(C)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    The bill says: by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period;

  11. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)(C)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    The bill says: by striking "in trust: Provided, however, That the word" and all that follows through "sentence," and inserting the following: “in trust.

  12. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)(C)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    (iii) Net revenues.—(I) In general.— Any net

    The bill says: by striking "one thousand two hundred and eighty acres: Provided further, That any net" and inserting the following: “1,280 acres.

  13. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)(C)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    The bill says: by striking "community needs: Provided, That the" and inserting the following: “community needs.

  14. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)(C)changedby H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    (C) Conveyance to Municipal Corporation or the State in trust.—(i) In general.— The Village Corporation

    The bill says: by striking "(C) the Village Corporation" and inserting the following:

  15. 43 U.S.C. 1613(c)(1)(C)added (iv)by H.R. 43 Sec. 2(5)

    (iv) Cases in which conveyance shall not be required.—(I) In general.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, if a Village Corporation, prior to the date of enactment of the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025, conveyed to the State in trust all or a portion of the acreage of land required to be conveyed under this subparagraph for the establishment of a Municipal Corporation in the future, and a Municipal Corporation has not been established as of that date of enactment, on formal resolution by the Village Corporation and the residents of the Native village requesting dissolution of the trust, the trust shall be dissolved and title to the land shall revert to the Village Corporation, subject to subclause (III).(II) Additional land.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, as of the date of enactment of the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025, a Village Corporation shall not be required to convey any additional land in trust under this subparagraph for the establishment of a Municipal Corporation in the future.(III) Requirements.— In accordance with subsection (g)—(aa) the reversion of land to a Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I) shall be subject to—(AA) valid existing rights created by the applicable trust; and(BB) any existing easements, rights-of-way necessary for public roadway access, or rights-of-way for access of holders of valid existing rights; and(bb) the Village Corporation shall assume the obligations of the applicable trust with respect to any lease or other use agreement applicable to the land on reversion of the land to the Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I).

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025

This act removes the requirement that Alaska Native village corporations must convey lands to Alaska to be held in trust for future municipal governments.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) requires all Alaska Native village corporations that receive land under the ANCSA to convey certain lands to the existing municipality in the village or, if no municipality exists, to Alaska in trust for any municipality that may be established in the future. This act removes the requirement for conveyance. Additionally, the act allows village corporations to regain title to the lands held in trust by dissolving the trust through formal resolution by the village corporation and the residents of the Native village.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Jul 7, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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  1. 2025-07-07Became Public Law No: 119-23.Library of Congress
  2. 2025-07-07Signed by President.Library of Congress
  3. 2025-07-03Presented to President.Library of Congress
  4. 2025-06-18Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.Library of Congress
  5. 2025-02-04Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 - 1 (Roll no. 28). (text: CR H445-446) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  6. 2025-01-03Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 21 recorded actions

After it became law

Sourced

Nothing in the Federal Register names Public Law 119-23 yet (checked Oct 27, 2026). Many laws need no new rules: they set penalties, name a building, or fund something directly.