Analyst Brief November 11, 2026

H.R. 2400 — Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2026, as amended

Current Status

Senate Amendment to House Bill

Executive Summary

H.R. 2400 transfers approximately 557 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in California to the Department of the Interior to be held in trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe. The legislation explicitly excludes existing roads and rights-of-way from the transfer to maintain current infrastructure access. Crucially, the bill includes a strict prohibition on both Class II and Class III gaming on the newly acquired trust land, neutralizing the most common political hurdle for tribal land transfers.

Bill Data

Primary Sponsor

Not listed in amendment text

Bill Number

H.R. 2400

Session

119th

Co-Sponsors

None
View on Congress.gov ↗

Arguments For

  • Fulfills federal trust responsibilities and supports tribal sovereignty by returning ancestral or culturally significant lands to the Pit River Tribe.
  • The explicit prohibition on gaming provides political cover for lawmakers who typically oppose tribal land expansions due to casino proliferation concerns.
  • Excluding existing roads and easements prevents local jurisdictional disputes and ensures uninterrupted public infrastructure access.

Likely Supporters

Pit River TribeNational Congress of American Indians (NCAI)Native American Rights Fund (NARF)

Arguments Against

  • Reduces the footprint of federally managed public lands, which can occasionally draw opposition from public land advocates or recreational users.
  • Creates a minor administrative and financial burden on the Department of the Interior to conduct a full land survey within a strict 180-day window.

Likely Opponents

Local anti-trust-land organizationsCertain public lands recreational groups (if access is perceived to be threatened)

📋 Key Provisions

  • Transfers administrative jurisdiction of approximately 557 acres of 'Four Corners Federal land' from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of the Interior.
  • Places the transferred land into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe, making it part of their official Reservation.
  • Excludes approximately 87 acres of existing roads, highways, public rights-of-way, and easements from the transfer.
  • Requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete a full land survey within 180 days of enactment.
  • Prohibits the use of the transferred land for Class II or Class III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
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Claim Analysis Page 2, Line 21

Prohibits Class II and Class III gaming on the transferred land.

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"shall not be used for any class II gaming"

Claim Analysis Page 3, Line 3

Transfers approximately 557 acres of Forest Service land.

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"approximately 557 acres of land managed by"

Claim Analysis Page 3, Line 9

Excludes 87 acres of roads and rights-of-way from the transfer.

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"does not include the approximately 87 acres of roads"

Claim Analysis Page 2, Line 1

Requires a complete land survey within 180 days of enactment.

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"Not later than 180 days after the date"