What This Bill Does
This bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, to complete a land exchange in San Bernardino County, California, between about 1,475 acres of National Forest System land and about 1,460 acres owned by the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. If the Nation offers its land, the Secretary must accept it and convey the federal land within 120 days, subject to a reserved Forest Service easement on portions of roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25. The exchange would also require a survey, allow minor boundary corrections by mutual agreement, and place the acquired federal land into the San Bernardino National Forest. The bill also requires a preservation agreement for the Arrowhead landmark site on the exchanged federal land.
- Swaps about 1,475 acres of National Forest System land for about 1,460 acres owned by the Nation.
- Requires the Secretary to act within 120 days after receiving the Nation’s offer.
- Reserves Forest Service access easements on portions of roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25.
- Requires a preservation agreement for the Arrowhead landmark site within 120 days after enactment.
- Exempts the exchange from section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
Who This Bill Affects
For people in and around San Bernardino County, the bill would change who owns and manages two specific blocks of land: about 1,475 acres of federal forest land and about 1,460 acres of tribal land. It could affect local access, land stewardship, and protection of the Arrowhead landmark site, while keeping Forest Service access on portions of roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25. For most Americans outside the area, the direct effect would be minimal.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- Tribal members and tribal land managers They may support the bill because it consolidates land ownership and can better align land management with tribal priorities. The exchange also recognizes the Nation’s role by transferring federal land in return for tribal land of nearly equal acreage.
- Forest Service and federal land managers Supporters may argue that the swap simplifies boundary management and allows the San Bernardino National Forest to receive land that can be managed directly under forest rules. The reserved easement on roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25 also helps preserve access.
- Local residents and heritage advocates Some may favor the required agreement to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site. That provision creates a formal protection mechanism tied to the land transfer.
- Public land access advocates They may worry that transferring federal forest acreage out of public ownership reduces the amount of land managed for broad public benefit. Even with easements, a land swap can change how the area is accessed and used over time.
- Environmental or conservation groups They may object if the exchange affects habitat, watershed management, or long-term conservation values on either parcel. The bill relies on maps and later surveys, which can raise concerns about boundary changes and land-use outcomes.
- People concerned about federal process safeguards Some may question the exemption from section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. They could view that as bypassing a more standard federal land-disposal framework.
Key Implications
-
“"the Secretary shall... accept the offer"”
If the Nation tenders the specified non-federal land, the federal government is required to complete the exchange rather than merely consider it. That makes the transaction mandatory once the statutory conditions are met.
-
“"within the 120-day period"”
The bill sets a deadline for federal action after the Secretary receives the offer. That creates a relatively fast timetable for completing the exchange once the Nation initiates it.
-
“"reserve an easement for access and use by the Forest Service"”
Even after the land transfer, the Forest Service keeps access rights on portions of roads 1N22, 1N24, and 1N25. This is meant to prevent the exchange from blocking agency access across the area.
-
“"preserve... the historical and cultural integrity of the Arrowhead landmark site"”
The bill does not just move land; it also requires a preservation agreement for a named site on the federal parcel. That means cultural and historical considerations are built into the transfer itself.
-
“"not subject to section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976"”
The exchange would proceed outside a standard federal land-exchange provision. That can streamline the transaction, but it also means the deal is not being handled under that particular statutory process.
Latest Status
June 10, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Take Action
Get more from BillBoard
Free tools to understand, respond to, and track this bill.
Ask AI about this billData sourced from api.congress.gov.