In a significant step forward for tribal economic development and sovereignty, the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has approved legislation that would give federally recognized tribes, including the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the authority to enter into 99-year land leases on trust lands — a major expansion of long-term leasing flexibility that tribal leaders say is critical for community planning, investment, and development.
The legislation, part of a broader package of tribal land and jurisdiction bills, was advanced by the Senate panel on December 17, 2025, and would amend the Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955 to allow tribes the option to issue leases of up to 99 years, replacing the current 25-year cap that has limited tribes’ ability to secure financing and pursue long-range economic projects.
As part of the committee’s hearing, Chairman Brian Weeden of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe traveled to Washington, D.C. to testify in support of S. 236, the Tribe’s bill introduced earlier this year that would specifically authorize extended leasing authority on the Mashpee Wampanoag Reservation and for lands held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head.
During his testimony before the Committee, Chairman Weeden emphasized how the existing statutory 25-year lease limit has slowed economic growth and made it difficult for the Tribe to attract long-term investment:
“Having been landless for so many generations, Mashpee now desperately needs economic development to build an economy to support our people, to preserve our culture, and to plan for the long-term health and security of our future generations,” Weeden told senators, noting that longer lease terms provide greater financial security and are essential for planning generational projects.
By extending lease authority to 99 years, the bill aims to give tribal nations the stability and planning horizon needed to pursue housing, infrastructure, and business development that can sustain Tribal governments and communities well into the future. Tribal leaders and advocates have said that without longer lease terms, tribes are often forced to seek separate legislation on a case-by-case basis, creating delays and uncertainty.
The hearing also included testimony on related tribal bills focused on jurisdictional issues and land-into-trust transfers, part of a broader legislative effort to strengthen tribal self-determination and economic opportunity across Indian Country.
Moving forward, the bill will need to be considered by the full Senate and then the House of Representatives before it can be enacted into law. Tribal members and supporters of responsible economic development will continue to watch its progress closely in the coming months.
