Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2026

Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2026 This bill takes three parcels of specified federal land (approximately 847 acres) in San Diego County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Barona Reservation, California. The land taken into trust shall be part of the Tribe's reservation. One parcel (approximately 164 acres) is currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and two parcels (approximately 683 acres) are currently administered by the Forest Service. Administrative jurisdiction over the Forest Service land must be transferred to the Department of the Interior. Among other requirements, the bill requires the land taken into trust to remain subject to (1) existing liens, rights-of-way, reciprocal road rights-of-way agreements, licenses, leases, permits, special use permits, and easements; (2) continuing public access to the land, including roads and trails, as on the date of the bill's enactment; and (3) rights-of-way necessary for BLM and Forest Service employees to access the land for operational and emergency purposes (e.g., wildfire suppression). The bill requires the Tribe to maintain the fuel break within two of the parcels in accordance with applicable Forest Service standards. The bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.