Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2026
Latest action (5 Aug 2026): Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
What this bill does
S. 3219, the Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025, would transfer about 9.89 acres of federal land in Albuquerque, New Mexico—three tracts historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School, including a warehouse building—out of General Services Administration custody and into trust status held by the Secretary of the Interior for the benefit of 19 named New Mexico Indian Pueblos (including Acoma, Isleta, Taos, Zuni, and others). The transfer would occur within 90 days after the law takes effect and after federal tenants currently on the land relocate. A right-of-way easement on one tract would let the government retrieve or relocate federal property. The land would remain subject to existing private, municipal, or utility agreements, and class I, II, and III gaming would be prohibited on the property.
The bill affects the 19 Pueblos, who would gain trust land for educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development purposes, and it affects the General Services Administration and Department of the Interior, which would carry out the jurisdictional transfer and obtain an updated survey to be recorded with Bernalillo County. Federal tenants currently occupying the property would need to relocate before the transfer proceeds.
The bill was introduced November 19, 2025, by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) with Sen. Ben Ray Luján, and referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. As of August 5, 2026, the committee ordered it reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Next, it would await a vote by the full Senate; if passed, it would then need to pass the House and be signed by the President to become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025
This bill takes three tracts of specified federal land (approximately 9.89 acres) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, into trust for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. (These three tracts of land were historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School, which was an Indian boarding school until 1981.)
The land is currently administered by the General Services Administration (GSA). Within 90 days of this bill's enactment and the relocation of all federal tenants, the bill requires (1) the GSA to transfer administrative jurisdiction over the land to the Department of the Interior, and (2) Interior to take the land into trust for the benefit of the 19 Pueblos.
The land taken into trust must be subject to a right-of-way easement, as determined by the GSA, on the federal land located within Tract 1 for purposes of retrieving or relocating federal property from the land to another location. (Tract 1, which is approximately 3.57 acres, contains a warehouse that is 76,682 square feet.)
The bill requires the land taken into trust to be used for the educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development of the 19 Pueblos. Further, the land must remain subject to existing private and municipal encumbrances, rights-of-way, restrictions, easements of record, and utility service agreements.
The bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.
Timeline
5 Aug 2026
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 3219 do?
- S. 3219, the Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025, would transfer about 9.89 acres of federal land in Albuquerque, New Mexico—three tracts historically part of the Albuquerque Indian School, including a warehouse building—out of General Services Administration custody and into trust status held by the Secretary of the Interior for the benefit of 19 named New Mexico Indian Pueblos (including Acoma, Isleta, Taos, Zuni, and others). The transfer would occur within 90 days after the law takes effect and after federal tenants currently on the land relocate. A right-of-way easement on one tract would let the government retrieve or relocate federal property. The land would remain subject to existing private, municipal, or utility agreements, and class I, II, and III gaming would be prohibited on the property. The bill affects the 19 Pueblos, who would gain trust land for educational, health, cultural, business, and economic development purposes, and it affects the General Services Administration and Department of the Interior, which would carry out the jurisdictional transfer and obtain an updated survey to be recorded with Bernalillo County. Federal tenants currently occupying the property would need to relocate before the transfer proceeds. The bill was introduced November 19, 2025, by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) with Sen. Ben Ray Luján, and referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. As of August 5, 2026, the committee ordered it reported favorably with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Next, it would await a vote by the full Senate; if passed, it would then need to pass the House and be signed by the President to become law.
- Has S. 3219 become law?
- Not yet. As of 5 Aug 2026, S. 3219 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 3219?
- S. 3219 was sponsored by Sen. Martin Heinrich [D-NM] (Democrat-NM), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 3219?
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (5 Aug 2026).
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