265 Acres of Federal Land Slated for Trust Transfer to Shingle Springs Miwok Tribe; Gaming Permanently Banned on New Parcel

This bill, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Land Transfer Act of 2025, is pretty straightforward: it directs the federal government to transfer approximately 265 acres of federal land into trust for the benefit of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. Specifically, it revokes an old 1964 land order (Public Land Order 3309) that covered the area and tells the Secretary of the Interior to complete the transfer within 180 days of the bill becoming law.

The Land and the Clock

Think of this as a land title transfer with a hard deadline. The bill clearly defines the land in question—about 80 acres designated as "BLM Land Proposed Transfer into Trust" and another 185 acres labeled "Indian Creek Ranch Proposed Transfer into Trust Land Status," totaling roughly 265 acres. For the Tribe, securing this land in trust means it will be administered under the laws that govern property held by the U.S. for an Indian Tribe, which is a major step for tribal sovereignty and resource management. The 80-acre parcel is specifically designated as part of the Tribe's existing reservation, expanding its footprint.

Before the 180-day clock runs out, the Secretary of the Interior is required to review the land and perform a survey if necessary. This is where the fine print matters: the Secretary can make "minor corrections to fix clerical, typographical, or surveying errors." While this sounds minor, it’s a provision to watch, as even small boundary adjustments could matter greatly to adjacent landowners or the Tribe. However, the bill is clear, and the overall goal is a clean, swift transfer, subject only to "valid existing rights"—meaning any current leases or easements stay in place until the transfer is finalized.

No Dice: The Gaming Prohibition

One of the most notable provisions in this bill is the explicit ban on gambling. The legislation states clearly that the land taken into trust under this Act cannot be used for any Class II or Class III gaming, which covers everything from bingo to full-scale casino operations under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. For the Tribe, this means the land can be used for housing, cultural purposes, economic development (that isn't gambling), or resource management, but it won't be a site for a new casino. This restriction is significant because it preemptively removes a major potential use for the land, ensuring that the transfer focuses purely on land base expansion and not gaming expansion.

Real-World Impact

For the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, this bill represents a clear path to expanding their land base and resources, providing stability and certainty for future planning. For the general public, the impact is likely minimal, unless they currently use the specific, defined parcels of land for recreation or access under the old Public Land Order 3309. Since the land is being placed into trust, its management will shift from federal public land rules to tribal and trust regulations. The clarity of the bill’s language and the 180-day deadline suggest a smooth administrative process, ensuring that this specific land transfer is executed efficiently and without the possibility of future gaming development.