Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2400

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Native Americans

Status

Passed House

Latest Action

2026-06-03: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

Last Updated

2026-06-04T10:56:32Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 aims to transfer specific federal land in California from U.S. government management into trust status for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe. This process places the land under federal protection for tribal use, recognizing the tribe's historical and cultural ties to the area, while prohibiting commercial gaming activities on it.

Key Provisions

• Land Transfer: Approximately 583.79 acres of land, known as the "Four Corners Federal land" and managed by the U.S. Forest Service, will be taken into trust by the Secretary of the Interior for the Pit River Tribe. This transfer respects any pre-existing legal rights (e.g., leases or permits) on the land.
• Survey Requirement: The Secretary of Agriculture must complete and provide a full survey of the land to the Secretary of the Interior within 180 days of the Act's enactment.
• Administration of Trust Land: Once transferred, the land becomes part of the Pit River Tribe Reservation and will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior under standard federal laws and rules for lands held in trust for Native American tribes (these rules ensure the land is protected for tribal benefit and cannot be sold or taxed without federal approval).
• Gaming Restriction: The land cannot be used for Class II or Class III gaming (types of casino-style gambling regulated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, or IGRA, which governs tribal gaming operations).
• Definitions:
• Four Corners Federal Land: Refers to the specified acres, including any buildings or attachments, but excludes about 20.03 acres of roads, highways, and public rights-of-way (easements that allow public access).
• Map: A specific map titled "Proposed Land Conveyance to the Pit River Tribe," dated November 6, 2024, prepared by the Forest Service, which outlines the boundaries.
• Secretary: The Secretary of the Interior (head of the Department of the Interior, responsible for federal Indian affairs).
• Tribe: The Pit River Tribe in California, encompassing several rancherias (small tribal land areas) including XL Ranch, Big Bend, Likely, Lookout, Montgomery Creek, and Roaring Creek.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This Act creates a new, targeted exception to general federal land management laws by mandating the transfer of Forest Service land into trust specifically for the Pit River Tribe, bypassing the usual application process under the Indian Reorganization Act (a 1934 law that allows tribes to request trust status for lands).
• It introduces a explicit ban on gaming for this parcel, which is not a default restriction in all trust land transfers, ensuring the land focuses on non-commercial tribal purposes.
• No broader amendments to IGRA or other statutes are made; the changes are limited to this specific land transfer.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The U.S. Forest Service (under the Department of Agriculture) will lose direct management control over the land, shifting responsibilities to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (under the Department of the Interior) for administration. This could streamline tribal oversight but require inter-agency coordination for the survey.
• Citizens and Local Communities: Tribal members gain expanded reservation land for cultural, residential, or resource use, potentially improving access to traditional areas. Non-tribal citizens may see minimal disruption due to preserved public rights-of-way, but could face changes in land use (e.g., from public recreation to tribal priorities). No widespread economic impacts are anticipated, given the gaming prohibition.
• International Relations: None apparent, as the Act is domestic and focused on U.S. federal-tribal relations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Pit River Tribe: Primary beneficiary, gaining sovereign control over the land for reservation purposes, enhancing cultural preservation and self-governance.
• U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior: Responsible for implementation, including survey and trust administration; may incur minor administrative costs.
• Local Governments and Residents in California: Potentially affected by changes in land access or use near the Modoc National Forest area, though public easements are protected.
• Existing Rights Holders: Individuals or entities with pre-existing permits on the land, whose rights remain intact but may now interact with tribal and federal oversight.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces the federal government's authority to place land into trust under the Indian Reorganization Act and related laws, upholding the U.S. trust responsibility (a legal duty to protect tribal interests). The gaming ban aligns with IGRA's framework to prevent unregulated gambling, reducing potential legal challenges from nearby communities.
• Constitutional: Supports Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution (Congress's power to regulate federal property and Indian affairs), promoting tribal sovereignty without infringing on state authority, as trust lands are exempt from state jurisdiction.
• Political: Advances federal policy on tribal land restoration, a bipartisan priority in recent decades to address historical dispossession of Native lands. It may set a precedent for similar targeted transfers but could spark localized debates over federal land use in rural California.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-03: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
• 2025-12-16: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
• 2025-12-15: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
• 2025-12-15: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5886-5887)
• 2025-12-15: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5886-5887)
• 2025-12-15: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2400.
• 2025-12-15: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5886-5888)
• 2025-12-15: Mr. Stauber moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• 2025-09-15: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 245.
• 2025-09-15: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-289.
• 2025-09-15: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-289.
• 2025-07-23: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
• 2025-07-23: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-07-23: Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged
• 2025-04-30: Subcommittee Hearings Held

Bill Versions

• Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-15 — PDF (6 pages)
• Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (4 pages)
• Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-16 — PDF (4 pages)
• Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-15 — PDF (6 pages)