Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2796
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T11:03:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 2796 – Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act
Purpose
This bill authorizes a land exchange between the United States and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (a federally recognized tribe) in San Bernardino County, California, to transfer approximately 1,475 acres of National Forest System land for roughly 1,460 acres of tribal land.
Key Provisions
- Land Exchange Process: Upon the tribe offering to transfer its land to the United States, the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Forest Service) must accept the offer and convey the federal land within 120 days, subject to a retained easement for Forest Service access on specified roads.
- Survey Requirements: The exact boundaries of both parcels must be confirmed by mutually satisfactory surveys; the tribe bears the cost of surveying its land.
- Map Adjustments: Minor boundary changes or corrections to maps, acreage estimates, or descriptions are allowed by mutual agreement, with maps controlling in case of conflict.
- Cultural Preservation Condition: The tribe must enter an agreement within 120 days to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site, with the agreement recorded in county and Forest Service records.
- Land Management: Land received by the United States becomes part of the San Bernardino National Forest and is managed under existing national forest laws and regulations.
- Exemption: The exchange is not subject to the exchange procedures in section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill exempts this specific exchange from standard federal land exchange requirements under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, allowing a direct, time-limited conveyance process.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Forest Service gains tribal land that integrates into the San Bernardino National Forest while retaining limited road access rights; the exchange occurs outside normal appraisal and public notice procedures.
- Citizens: Public access to certain Forest Service roads on the exchanged federal land is preserved via easement; the Arrowhead landmark receives formal preservation commitments.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (tribe).
- The U.S. Forest Service and Department of Agriculture.
- San Bernardino County, California (through recording of preservation agreements and land records).
- Local residents and recreational users of the San Bernardino National Forest.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The legislation involves tribal-federal land transactions and cultural site protection but does not alter broader constitutional authorities or create new legal precedents beyond the targeted exemption from standard land exchange rules.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
- 2025-09-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6578)
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (7 pages)