Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026 aims to update Public Law 96-586 to modernize how the Forest Service acquires and manages land. This bill specifically addresses the Lake Tahoe Basin and its status as the homeland of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. It expands land transfer options to include the Washoe Tribe and updates land management authorities. The bill allows funds to be used for managing acquired land and National Forest System land within the basin. It also establishes a process for developing annual spending plans for these activities. Finally, it provides specific authority for the Tribe to acquire and manage land of cultural significance.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides the Washoe Tribe with increased opportunities for land ownership and management of cultural sites.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill modernizes Forest Service authority to manage and acquire land within the Lake Tahoe Basin.
- Scored +7
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill empowers the Washoe Tribe to acquire and manage land of cultural significance in their homeland.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased access and resources for the Washoe Tribe: The bill notes that current limited land ownership hampers the ability of the Washshoe Tribe to provide access and cultural resources for its members; the new provisions allow for land transfers to the Tribe to help address this (Section 2(a)(1)(C) and Section 2(b)(2)(B)(ii)).
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Enhanced land management in the Lake Tahoe Basin: The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, can use funds for activities such as maintaining forest health, maintaining water quality, and maintaining the wildland-urban interface (Section 2(b)(2)(B)(7)(C)).
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Preservation of cultural and indigenous sites: The bill allows for land management activities specifically for the purposes of preserving cultural sites and indigenous management practices (Section 2(b)(2)(B)(7)(C)(v)).
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Support for tribal land acquisition: The Secretary can transfer funds to the Washoe Tribe to acquire and manage land of cultural significance for preservation, access, and land management (Section 2(b)(2)(g)).
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Creation of new partnerships: The Forest Service is authorized to enter into partnerships with Federal agencies, State or local governments, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to develop and implement land management and public access projects (Section 2(b)(2)(B)(7)(D)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill modernizes Forest Service authority to manage and acquire land within the Lake Tahoe Basin. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill authorizes land management activities to maintain forest health, water quality, and the wildland-urban interface in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides the Washoe Tribe with increased opportunities for land ownership and management of cultural sites.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill empowers the Washoe Tribe to acquire and manage land of cultural significance in their homeland.
- 2/12/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.
- 1/27/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California