Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7255
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-17T18:20:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026 aims to update the Santini-Burton Act (Public Law 96-586) by expanding and modernizing the U.S. Forest Service's authority to acquire, manage, and transfer land in the Lake Tahoe Basin. It emphasizes environmental protection, cultural preservation, and collaboration with tribal, state, and local entities to address land ownership limitations, particularly for the Washoe Tribe, while supporting broader ecosystem health and public access.
Key Provisions
- Updated Findings and Purpose: Adds a finding recognizing the Lake Tahoe Basin as the homeland of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, noting their limited land ownership (less than 0.5%) and its impact on cultural resource access. Expands the Act's purpose to include land management alongside acquisition.
- Land Acquisition Priorities: Prioritizes acquisitions for the Washoe Tribe, local governments, and conservation in the Lake Tahoe Basin to protect environmentally sensitive areas.
- Land Management and Transfers:
- Allows the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Forest Service Chief) to use acquisition funds for managing acquired lands and National Forest System lands in the Basin, including forest health maintenance, wildland-urban interface protection (areas where human development meets wildlands), water quality improvement, recreation impact mitigation, cultural site preservation, and related research.
- Permits transfers of acquired land (if unsuitable for National Forest inclusion) to state/local governments or the Washoe Tribe, with funding for administrative costs.
- Enables fund transfers to state/local governments, the Washoe Tribe, or the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for management activities and public access projects on acquired lands, culturally significant sites, or lands linked to federal properties or Lake Tahoe's shoreline.
- Partnerships and Collaboration: Authorizes partnerships with federal agencies, states, local governments, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and the Washoe Tribe for joint management. Funds can be transferred for these efforts and count as non-federal matching funds for other federal programs.
- Annual Spending Plan: Requires the Forest Supervisor of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to develop an annual plan by March 15, in consultation with stakeholders, prioritizing activities based on environmental thresholds (carrying capacities set to protect the Basin's ecosystem), measurable outcomes, multi-benefits, leverage potential, program priorities, and stakeholder support. Funds remain available until spent and supplement (not replace) other appropriations.
- Cultural Land Provisions: Allows direct fund transfers to the Washoe Tribe for acquiring and managing culturally significant lands in the Basin for preservation, access, and stewardship.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit" as the area designated by the Forest Service in 1973.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expansion of Fund Use: Previously, funds under the Santini-Burton Act were limited to land acquisition; now they can support post-acquisition management, transfers, partnerships, and cultural initiatives without needing separate appropriations.
- Inclusion of Tribal Interests: Introduces explicit recognition and prioritization of the Washoe Tribe, including land transfers and dedicated funding for cultural sites—absent in the original 1980 Act.
- Management Flexibility: Adds detailed provisions for ongoing land stewardship (e.g., forest health, water quality) and annual planning tied to the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact's environmental standards, shifting from a purely acquisition-focused law to one integrating management.
- Transfer and Partnership Enhancements: Broadens options for land disposal to tribes and allows federal funds to serve as matching contributions, streamlining collaboration.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances the Forest Service's efficiency in managing Basin lands by repurposing acquisition funds for maintenance and research, potentially reducing administrative burdens through partnerships. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and state agencies (California and Nevada) gain access to federal funds for coordinated environmental efforts.
- Citizens: Improves public access to recreational and culturally significant areas, supports ecosystem health (e.g., cleaner water, reduced wildfire risks), and mitigates recreational impacts, benefiting residents and visitors in the Basin.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the legislation focuses on U.S. domestic lands; however, Lake Tahoe's cross-state nature strengthens U.S.-Canada environmental cooperation indirectly through shared watershed principles, though not addressed here.
- Overall: Could accelerate environmental restoration in the Basin, addressing climate and tourism pressures, while increasing costs for federal budgeting if partnerships expand.
Main Stakeholders
- U.S. Forest Service and Department of Agriculture: Primary implementers, gaining expanded authorities and funding flexibility.
- Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California: Key beneficiary, with new opportunities for land ownership, cultural preservation, and management funding.
- State and Local Governments (California, Nevada): Eligible for land transfers, fund sharing, and partnerships to support regional planning.
- Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Involved in consultations and fund receipt for environmental threshold enforcement.
- Environmental and Recreational Users: Indirectly affected through improved land management and access.
- Congress and Taxpayers: Responsible for appropriations, with funds supplementing existing budgets.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Overrides certain restrictions on fund use ("notwithstanding any other provision of law"), providing flexibility but potentially inviting challenges if seen as bypassing appropriations rules. Aligns with the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact (a binding interstate agreement) by tying activities to its environmental standards.
- Constitutional: Supports tribal sovereignty under federal Indian law by prioritizing Washoe Tribe interests, consistent with treaty obligations and the Indian Self-Determination Act, without raising takings or property rights issues since it focuses on voluntary acquisitions and transfers.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Rep. Kiley, with Nevada co-sponsors) signals regional consensus on Tahoe conservation. Emphasizes tribal inclusion, advancing reconciliation efforts, but may spark debates on federal land management expansion versus local control. No major partisan divides evident, focusing on environmental and cultural priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-27 — PDF (11 pages)