Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023

To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide that Village Corporations shall not be required to convey land in trust to the State of Alaska for the establishment of Municipal Corporations, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023 2. Reversion of certain land conveyed in trust to the State of Alaska Section 14(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1613(c) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting appropriately; (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking (c) Each patent (c) Conveyance of certain land by Village Corporation (1) In general Each patent ; (3) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the undesignated matter following subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), in the first sentence— (A) by striking section 14(c) of this Act this subsection (B) by striking There is authorized (2) Technical assistance (A) In general There are authorized ; (4) in paragraph (2)(A) (as so redesignated), in the second sentence, by striking The Secretary (B) Form of funding The Secretary ; and (5) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)— (A) in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B) (as so redesignated)— (i) by striking the The (ii) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; (B) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by striking the The (C) by striking existed as of for (E) For ; and (D) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated)— (i) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period; (ii) by striking in trust: Provided, however, sentence, (II) Definition of sale For purposes of subclause (I), the term sale ; (iii) by striking one thousand two hundred and eighty acres: Provided further, (iii) Net revenues (I) In general Any net ; (iv) by striking community needs: Provided, (ii) Minimum acreage The ; (v) by striking (C) the Village Corporation (C) Conveyance to Municipal Corporation or the State in trust (i) In general The Village Corporation ; and (vi) by adding at the end the following: (iv) Cases in which conveyance shall not be required (I) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, if a Village Corporation, prior to the date of enactment of the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023 (II) Additional land Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, as of the date of enactment of the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023 (III) Requirements In accordance with subsection (g)— (aa) the reversion of land to a Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I) shall be subject to— (AA) valid existing rights created by the applicable trust; and (BB) any existing easements, rights-of-way necessary for public roadway access, or rights-of-way for access of holders of valid existing rights; and (bb) the Village Corporation shall assume the obligations of the applicable trust with respect to any lease or other use agreement applicable to the land on reversion of the land to the Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I). .

Summary: Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023This bill removes the requirement that Alaska Native village corporations must convey lands to Alaska to be held in trust for future municipal governments. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) requires all Alaska Native village corporations that receive land under the ANCSA to convey certain lands to the existing municipality in the village or, if no municipality exists, to Alaska in trust for any municipality that may be established in the future. This bill removes the requirement for conveyance. Additionally, the bill allows village corporations to regain title to the lands held in trust by dissolving the trust through formal resolution by the village corporation and the residents of the Native village.