The Department of the Interior (DOI) has finalized changes to the
Part 151 fee-to-trust regulations. The new rules are
effective on January 11, 2024.
The final version of the rule is largely consistent with the
proposed regulations that were put forth by the DOI in December
of 2022. The regulations are designed to significantly streamline
BIA’s process for taking land into trust for the benefit of
Indian tribes. As noted in the final rule, the current average
length of time for a tribe to receive a final fee-to-trust
decision is 985 days; the new regulations establish a 120-day
timeframe.
Although many of the issues we advocated for were not included in
the final rule, it does require the DOI to consider “potential
conflicts of land use” when reviewing applications for
off-reservation acquisitions and initial Indian reservations.
This request, among a number of others, was advocated for by
CSAC.
