To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5682
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:41:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation directs the transfer of approximately 860 acres of federal land in Riverside County, California, into trust status for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians. The land would become part of the Tribe's reservation and must be preserved as open space for cultural, archaeological, and wildlife protection purposes.
Key Provisions
- The covered land is taken into trust for the Tribe, subject to all valid existing rights, encumbrances, liens, rights-of-way, leases, permits, and easements in place at the time of enactment.
- The land must be maintained as open space and used only for purposes consistent with open space preservation or for protecting archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources. Limited construction of utilities or structures is allowed if they support these goals.
- Class II or Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is prohibited on the transferred land.
- Existing water rights and service agreements remain unchanged.
- The land is to be administered under standard federal laws and regulations applicable to trust property held for Indian tribes.
- A map titled “BLM Lands into Trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians” (dated August 21, 2025) defines the parcel and must be kept on file with the Bureau of Land Management.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The Act legislatively places specific Bureau of Land Management-administered land into trust status for the Pechanga Band of Indians, expanding the Tribe’s reservation boundaries by statute rather than through administrative processes. It imposes permanent restrictions on land use, including a ban on gaming, that would not otherwise apply to standard trust land.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Bureau of Land Management would no longer administer the parcel, shifting management responsibility to the Department of the Interior under trust rules.
- Citizens: Local residents in Riverside County may see continued open space preservation and protection of cultural and wildlife resources, with no change to existing water rights or service agreements.
- International relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Pechanga Band of Indians (primary beneficiary).
- The Bureau of Land Management (current administrator).
- Residents and property owners in Riverside County, California.
- Entities holding existing rights-of-way, leases, or easements on the land.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation exercises Congress’s authority over Indian affairs by directly designating land as trust property, which carries sovereign immunity protections and limits state jurisdiction. The explicit prohibition on gaming and requirement to maintain open space create enforceable use restrictions that differ from typical trust land. The measure does not alter any constitutional framework but formalizes a land conveyance through federal statute.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 2026-06-02: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-06-02: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3745)
- 2026-06-02: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3745)
- 2026-06-02: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5682.
- 2026-06-02: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3745-3746)
- 2026-06-02: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2026-04-02: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 505.
- 2026-04-02: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-585.
- 2026-04-02: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-585.
- 2026-03-05: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-03-05: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-03-05: Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged
- 2025-11-19: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
Bill Versions
- An Act To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-06-02 — PDF (6 pages)
- To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-10-03 — PDF (4 pages)
- An Act To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (4 pages)
- To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-02 — PDF (6 pages)