Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026

HR 7255, the Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026, updates land management provisions for the Lake Tahoe Basin. It directly affects the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California by authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer funds to the Tribe for acquiring and managing culturally significant land within the Basin. Key mechanisms include requiring consultation with the Tribe, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and local governments when developing annual spending plans, and specifying land management activities such as preserving cultural sites, maintaining forest health, and protecting water quality. The bill ensures transferred funds count as non-Federal matching funds and prioritizes projects aligned with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s environmental goals.