Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026

Key Points

• Lets Forest Service use money set aside for buying land around Lake Tahoe to also manage that land (like forest health and water quality work).
• Adds the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California as a partner that can receive land and funding, including for land that is culturally important to the Tribe.
• Allows funds to cover the paperwork and other admin costs needed to transfer land to state/local governments or the Washoe Tribe.
• Spells out what “land management” can include: wildfire-risk work near homes, protecting water quality, limiting damage from heavy recreation, and protecting cultural sites.
• Requires a yearly spending plan with input from California, Nevada, the Tahoe planning agency, local governments, and the Washoe Tribe; funds can stay available until used.