583 Acres of Forest Service Land to Transfer to Pit River Tribe, with Strict Ban on Casino Gaming

The “Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2025” is a straightforward piece of legislation focused on transferring approximately 583.79 acres of federal land—currently managed by the Forest Service and known as the Four Corners Federal land—into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe. This is a significant move that essentially makes this specific acreage part of the Tribe’s reservation, placing it under the administration of the Secretary of the Interior according to the laws that govern all tribal trust lands (Sec. 2).

The Land Swap: What Changes on the Ground

For the Tribe, this bill is about consolidating and restoring their land base. Once the transfer is complete, the Tribe gains administrative control over the land for purposes like housing, economic development (non-gaming), and cultural preservation, governed by federal trust laws. For the rest of us, it means that a piece of land previously under general Forest Service management is changing hands. Importantly, the bill is clear that this transfer is subject to all valid existing rights (Sec. 2). This means if there are existing utility easements, mineral rights, or certain public rights-of-way, those won't just disappear when the land moves into trust status. The bill specifically excludes existing roads, highways, and public rights-of-way (about 20.03 acres) from the transfer, ensuring public access routes remain open.

The Clock Starts Now: Survey and Timeline

To ensure everyone knows exactly what land is being transferred, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a complete survey of the Four Corners land to the Secretary of the Interior within 180 days of the law being enacted (Sec. 2). This short timeline is crucial for getting the process moving quickly and reducing boundary disputes down the road. If you’re a local resident, a land surveyor, or work for the Forest Service, this 180-day deadline is the key operational hurdle to watch.

The Big Restriction: No Dice on This Acreage

Perhaps the most notable provision in this short bill is the explicit prohibition on using the transferred land for any Class II or Class III gaming, which covers everything from bingo halls to full-scale casinos, as defined by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (Sec. 2). This is a major restriction on how the Pit River Tribe can use this specific parcel for economic development. While land-into-trust transfers often aim to bolster tribal economies, this provision carves out gaming as a prohibited use for this particular 583 acres. This means that while the Tribe gains land, they lose the ability to pursue one of the most common and lucrative economic ventures on this specific acreage, which could impact future revenue streams and development plans.