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House approves transfer of BLM and fee land into trust for Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians
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Summary
The House passed HR 2302 to place roughly 80 acres of BLM land and 185 acres of fee land into trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians for housing and stewardship; sponsors said the transfer responds to local housing needs and includes restrictions prohibiting gaming.
The House approved HR 2302 on Dec. 9, a bill to place approximately 80 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and 185 acres of fee land into trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. Sponsors said the transfer is intended to help the tribe address housing and infrastructure needs while maintaining local assurances: the bill includes explicit restrictions prohibiting gaming on the newly placed trust land and limits commercial use to support the neighborhood.
Representative Tom McClintock, the bill's lead sponsor, said the transferred BLM parcel had been "densely overgrown" and presented wildfire hazard concerns, and argued tribal stewardship would reduce risk. Supporters pointed to unanimous endorsement by the local El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and the tribe’s prior stewardship on adjacent parcels.
Floor managers emphasized that the land already had been contemplated for residential use in past local plans and that the bill contains safeguards to preserve public-purpose commitments. The House passed the measure under suspension of the rules; the chair announced the rules suspended and the bill passed on the floor.
Next steps: The bill was passed by the House and will proceed toward final enactment; implementation of the land transfer will involve the Department of the Interior and BLM to effect the trust status and record the restrictions included in the statute.
Sources: Floor debate and manager statements during the House session.
