Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico made history on Thursday as the one of the first tribes to implement regulations under H.R.205, the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act (HEARTH) Act.

The tribe will be able to issue leases for business sites without getting the approval of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for every single one.

“Today's adoption of these tribal leasing regulations under the HEARTH Act will allow the Pueblo to be more responsive to leasing proposals and opportunities, and to directly regulate the leasing of our lands, furthering the fundamental goals of maintaining tribal sovereignty and achieving tribal self-determination and self-sufficiency,” Gov. VIctor Montoya said in a press release.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the BIA, approved the tribe's regulations at a signing ceremony on the reservation yesterday.

Get the Story:
A ‘historic day’ at pueblo (The Albuquerque Journal 3/15)
Sandia Pueblo to get leasing rights under federal law (AP 3/14)

Related Stories:
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in New Mexico for Pueblo events (3/14)