S. 236 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 23, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryAllows longer land leases for Wampanoag tribes
This bill changes a 1955 law to let two Wampanoag tribes in Massachusetts lease their trust land for periods up to 99 years. Right now, they can't make leases that long. The bill applies to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
How it affects you
This change affects these two Wampanoag tribes directly. Longer lease terms could help them plan long-term projects on their land or generate income in new ways. For most other Americans, this is a specialized change in tribal land law with no direct effect.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 23, 2025)
This bill authorizes the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to lease their land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years. Both tribes are located in Massachusetts.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 236
A BILL
A bill to amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the "Long-Term Leasing Act"), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and land held in trust for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) · Introduced Jan 23, 2025 · Native Americans · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 14, 2026: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 553.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.