S. 4053

119 S4053 IS: To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes.
 U.S. Senate
 2026-03-11
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4053  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   March 11, 2026   Mr. Padilla  (for himself and  Mr. Schiff ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Indian Affairs    A BILL
To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes.
1.
Transfer of land into trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians
(a)
In general
Subject to valid existing rights and the conditions described in subsection (c), the covered land is hereby taken into trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
(b)
Administration
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall be—
(1)
part of the reservation of the Tribe; and
(2)
administered in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe.
(c)
Conditions
(1)
In general
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall be—
(A)
subject to all valid encumbrances, liens, rights-of-way, reciprocal road rights-of-way agreements, licenses, leases, permits, and easements existing on the date of the enactment of this Act;
(B)
maintained as open space; and
(C)
used only for—
(i)
purposes consistent with the maintenance of the land as open space; and
(ii)
the protection, preservation, and maintenance of the archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources on the land.
(2)
Construction and maintenance
Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the construction or maintenance of utilities or structures that are—
(A)
consistent with the maintenance of the land taken into trust under subsection (a) as open space; and
(B)
constructed for the protection, preservation, and maintenance of the archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources on the land.
(3)
Prohibition on gaming
The land taken into trust under subsection (a) shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act ( 25 U.S.C. 2703 )).
(d)
Rights and agreements
Nothing in this Act shall alter, or require the alteration of, any existing water rights or service agreements.
(e)
Map on file
The Map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(f)
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Covered land
The term  covered land  means all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the approximately 860 acres of land in Riverside County, California, administered by the Bureau of Land Management and generally depicted as  Proposed Pechanga Land Conveyance Parcel  on the Map.
(2)
Map
The term  Map  means the map titled  BLM Lands into Trust for the Pechanga Band of Indians , and dated August 21, 2025.
(3)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of the Interior.
(4)
Tribe
The term  Tribe  means the Pechanga Band of Indians.