Congress restores Albuquerque Indian School land to 19 New Mexico Pueblos

What it does

This bill transfers approximately 9.89 acres of federal land in Albuquerque, New Mexico—historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School and currently held by the General Services Administration—into trust for 19 New Mexico Indian Pueblos. The land will be used for educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development; buildings on one tract are conveyed to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center; and gaming is prohibited on the transferred land.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is transferring federal land into trust status for Native American Pueblos to support community development, a straightforward exercise of federal trust responsibility and Indian self-determination policy.

What the text implies

• The conveyance of buildings and structures to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (a non-profit entity) creates a private beneficiary within the public transaction; the Center's governance and accountability structure should be examined to ensure public benefit.
• Land remains subject to existing private and municipal encumbrances, easements, and utility agreements, which may limit the Pueblos' actual control and development options despite nominal trust status.
• The 90-day timeline for federal tenant relocation and administrative transfer is aggressive and may create implementation risk if GSA cannot meet the deadline.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill restores federal trust land to Native American Pueblos for community development purposes, addressing a historical land dispossession and enabling self-determination. The prohibition on gaming and requirement that land serve educational and cultural purposes protect against exploitative uses and ensure public benefit.

Who stands to gain

• 19 New Mexico Indian Pueblos (collective)
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (non-profit)

Named in the bill

19 New Mexico Indian Pueblos (Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Ohkay Owingeh, Picuris,, General Services Administration (GSA), Secretary of the Interior, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bureau of Indian Affairs

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Nov 19, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Nov 19, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
• Mar 4, 2026 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Hearings Held”
• Apr 21, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Apr 21, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent”
• Jun 2, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3754-3755)”
• Jun 2, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.