H.R. 3444 — Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act of 2025

This section directs the heads of federal land management agencies—Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs—in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the department's Tribal Advisory Committee (chartered November 11, 2021), to develop a Tribal Co-Management Plan not later than one year after enactment of this Act. The plan identifies any agency activity (including permissive activities such as forest and grassland planning and management, research and development, restoration, and recreational services), service, or function—including related management decisions—to be carried out on agency-administered lands that (1) the Secretary determines are in need of such activity, service, or function (including restoration); (2) are consistent with agency land management plans; (3) the Secretary, in consultation with applicable Indian tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5130), identifies as historically, culturally, or geographically related to such tribes; and (4) comply with applicable laws, including environmental laws and regulations. If a substantially similar plan exists, the agency head must adopt it as the Tribal Co-Management Plan and update it within 120 days of enactment to minimize, to the maximum extent practicable, administrative burdens on Indian tribes.

This section requires the Secretary of the Interior to ensure that Department of the Interior employees involved in developing and carrying out a Tribal Co-Management Plan (established under section 2) receive training on (1) incorporating indigenous knowledge and practices into plan execution, (2) the tribal history of areas where approved projects under the plan will occur, and (3) the trust relationship between the United States and Indian tribes. The section authorizes the Secretary to consult with Indian tribes in implementing the training requirement and applies the definition of "Indian Tribe" from the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5130).

This section establishes authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into agreements with Indian tribes and tribal organizations to perform Forest Service activities—including permissive activities such as forest and grassland planning and management, research and development, restoration, Heritage Program activities, and recreational services—on National Forest System lands that the Secretary determines are in need of such activities, consistent with applicable land management plans and laws, and historically, culturally, or geographically related to the tribe (as identified in consultation with the tribe). The Secretary must enter into at least five such agreements during the four-year period beginning on the date of enactment and may use this authority, contracts under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (in a manner similar to specified prior authorities), or other applicable federal agreement authorities. Agreements are subject to limitations (e.g., no delegation of nondelegable functions, no state government reliance for funds or resources, no conflicts with stewardship contracts); tribes submit proposals specifying activities and lands; the Secretary evaluates using required considerations (e.g., effects on other tribes, existing rights) and allowable factors (e.g., best-value basis, special consideration for tribal affiliations, indigenous knowledge); and denials require notice within 90 days identifying reasons, potential remedies, and a technical assistance schedule.