Chehalis Tribe Gains 99-Year Lease Power, Can Now Partner with Other Tribes on Trust Land

This legislation updates a decades-old law to give the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation significantly more control over their trust lands. Essentially, it expands who the Chehalis Tribe can lease their land to, and for how long. The big takeaway is the new authority to offer leases up to 99 years—a major change from previous restrictions—and the ability to lease not just to the federal or state government, but also to any other federally recognized Indian Tribe.

Clearing the Path for Tribal Partnerships

Before this bill, the Chehalis Tribe’s leasing partners for their trust lands were tightly limited, primarily to the U.S. government or the State of Washington. Think of it like a landlord who could only rent their property to two specific government agencies. Under the new language added to the Act of August 9, 1955, the Tribe can now lease land to any federally recognized Indian Tribe listed by the Secretary of the Interior. This change is all about economic self-determination and flexibility.

This provision is a game-changer for inter-tribal cooperation. For example, if the Chehalis Tribe wanted to partner with another Tribe to develop a joint economic venture—say, building a shared resource management facility or a new commercial center—they now have a clear, straightforward path to do so. This cuts through the bureaucratic red tape that previously limited their ability to form these kinds of beneficial, sovereign-to-sovereign agreements.

The Power of the 99-Year Lease

While the specific section on expanded partners is clear, the legislation’s title highlights the authorization of leases up to 99 years. For those of us who deal with mortgages or business contracts, we know that a 99-year term is essentially permanent in economic terms. This long-term stability is crucial for major infrastructure projects or significant economic development. No business or Tribe is going to invest millions in building a facility on land they can only lease for a short term, like 25 years.

By allowing 99-year leases, the bill gives the Chehalis Tribe the necessary foundation to attract serious, large-scale investment, whether from internal tribal enterprises or, now, from other Tribes. It makes their land a viable asset for long-term planning, ensuring that the economic benefits of a project—like a new manufacturing plant or a housing development—will benefit the Tribe and its members for generations, rather than just a few years.