3,156 Acres Transferred to Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, But Gaming Is Permanently Off-Limits

This legislation outlines the transfer of approximately 3,156 acres of federal land, currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to be held in trust for the Las Vegas Tribe of Paiute Indians. Essentially, this land will become a part of the Tribe’s reservation. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to survey the exact boundaries within 180 days after the law is enacted, making the expansion official and setting the stage for tribal management and development.

The Land Deal with a Catch

While getting land into trust is a major win for tribal sovereignty and community growth, this transfer comes with a significant, non-negotiable condition. The bill mandates that the Tribe must grant a 300-foot-wide right-of-way to a qualified electric utility within 30 days of the law’s enactment. This corridor is specifically for constructing and maintaining high-voltage transmission facilities, linking this land transfer directly to regional energy infrastructure needs, particularly those tied to existing renewable energy agreements on the Snow Mountain Reservation. This means the Tribe is essentially trading a slice of control over the land for the land itself, ensuring that critical power lines can move forward.

No Dice: The Permanent Gaming Ban

Perhaps the biggest real-world impact of this bill for the Tribe is the permanent prohibition on gaming. The legislation explicitly states that Class II and Class III gaming—which covers everything from bingo and pull-tabs (Class II) to full-scale casino operations like slots and table games (Class III)—are permanently forbidden on this newly acquired land. For tribes, gaming revenue is often the primary engine for economic development, funding essential services, housing, and education. By banning it here, the bill severely restricts the Tribe’s options for generating income from this specific parcel, forcing them to pursue other, potentially less lucrative, economic ventures. It’s a major restriction placed on land meant to benefit the Tribe.

Water Rights and Existing Agreements Stay Put

For those tracking resource issues, the bill is careful not to rock the boat on water. It explicitly states that the law does not affirm or deny any Federal reserved water rights for the land, leaving the complex issue of water claims as they stand under State law. Furthermore, the transfer doesn't mess with an existing March 2021 Intergovernmental Agreement between the Tribe and the City of Las Vegas. This clarity is important; it ensures the land transfer doesn't inadvertently trigger new water wars or unravel existing municipal agreements. Finally, the bill includes a technical amendment, repealing a specific section of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which cleans up some prior legislative language related to land management in the area.