March 27, 2025
Mr. LaMalfa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
the Four Corners land is located in the ancestral territory of the Pit River Tribe; and
(2)
the Pit River Tribe has historically used, and has an ongoing relationship with, the Four Corners land.
Sec. 3. Land to be taken into trust
(a) Transfer of Four Corners Federal land
(1) In general
Subject to valid existing rights, the Four Corners Federal land is hereby taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the Tribe.
(2) Survey
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide to the Secretary a complete survey of the Four Corners Federal land.
(b) Transfer of Four Corners Fee land
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, at the request of the Tribe, the Secretary shall accept title to the Four Corners Fee land.
(2) Land taken into trust
Not later than 180 days after the completion of the transfer of the title to the Four Corners Fee land to the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take the Four Corners Fee land into trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
(c) Administration
Upon being taken into trust under this section, the lands taken into trust by the Secretary for the benefit of the Tribe shall be—
(1)
considered part of the Pit River Tribe Reservation; and
(2)
administered by the Secretary in accordance with the laws and regulations generally applicable to property held in trust by the United States for an Indian Tribe.
(d) Gaming prohibited
Land taken into trust under this section shall not be used for any class II gaming or class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) (as those terms are defined in section 4 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)).
(e) Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Four Corners Federal land
(A) In general
The term Four Corners Federal land means the approximately 583.79 acres of land managed by the Forest Service generally depicted within the Proposed Land Conveyance
boundary on the Map, including improvements and appurtenances thereon.
(B) Exclusion
The term Four Corners Federal land does not include the approximately 20.03 acres of roads, highways, and public rights-of-way subject to existing easements generally depicted within the Proposed Land Conveyance
boundary on the Map.
(2) Four Corners Fee land
The term Four Corners Fee land means the approximately 40.18 acres of land generally depicted as Tribal-Owned Property
on the Map.
(3) Map
The term Map means the map titled Proposed Land Conveyance to the Pit River Tribe
prepared by the Forest Service and dated November 6, 2024.
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(5) Tribe
The term Tribe means the Pit River Tribe, California (includes XL Ranch, Big Bend, Likely, Lookout, Montgomery Creek, and Roaring Creek Rancherias).