Bill > S3695

This bill, known as the Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026, amends Public Law 96-586, also called the Santini-Burton Act, to update how the Forest Service can acquire and manage land, particularly in the Lake Tahoe Basin. A key change recognizes that the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, the original inhabitants of the Lake Tahoe Basin, own very little land there, which hinders their ability to provide cultural resources and access for their members. The bill allows the Forest Service to use funds for land management activities not only on acquired federal land but also on existing National Forest System land within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, which is defined as the area managed by the Forest Service since 1973. Furthermore, it permits funds to be transferred to the Washoe Tribe, as well as state and local governments, to carry out land management activities on transferred lands, including maintaining forest health, water quality, preventing environmental impacts from recreation, and preserving cultural sites and indigenous practices. The bill also establishes a process for developing a spending plan for these activities, requiring consultation with various stakeholders, including the Washoe Tribe, and sets criteria for prioritizing management projects based on their environmental benefits and stakeholder support. Importantly, any funds transferred to the Washoe Tribe or other entities under this act will be considered non-Federal matching funds, potentially helping them secure other grants. Finally, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to transfer funds to the Washoe Tribe specifically for acquiring and managing land of cultural significance to them within the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3695/all-info