Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act
Sponsored By: Senator Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Introduced
Summary
Redefines the Pechanga Band reservation and broadens eligible water-quality projects. This bill would update which lands count as part of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians reservation and expand the kinds of activities that the Pechanga Water Quality Account can support in the Wolf Valley Basin.
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- Tribe and lands: Would expand the Reservation definition to include land set aside by two Executive orders, lands added on specific historic dates from 1882 through 2008, and contiguous trust lands held or later placed into trust within the Santa Margarita River Watershed.
- Water programs: Would replace a narrow focus on groundwater desalination with a broader allowance for activities that address water quality issues in the Wolf Valley Basin, letting the Water Quality Account fund more types of projects.
- Federal obligations and rights: Would direct the Secretary of the Interior to execute amendments to the Settlement Agreement, preserve the October 1, 2020 finding that conditions were satisfied, and would not alter any existing water right held on the enactment date.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Broaden Pechanga water-quality uses
If enacted, this bill would broaden what the Pechanga Water Quality Account can pay for in the Wolf Valley Basin. It would replace the phrase "groundwater desalination activities within the Wolf Valley Basin" with "activities to address water quality issues within the Wolf Valley Basin." That change would let more kinds of water-quality projects become eligible for support from the Account.
Protect Pechanga settlement findings and rights
If enacted, this bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to promptly sign any amendments needed to make the Settlement Agreement and its exhibits match the statutory changes. It would also state that the conditions described in section 3407(e) remain satisfied and that the Secretary's October 1, 2020 finding (85 Fed. Reg. 61966) stays valid. The bill would also say nothing in the section would change any water right that exists on the date of enactment.
Expand Pechanga reservation definition
If enacted, this bill would change what counts as the Pechanga Reservation. It would add land set aside by Executive Orders dated June 27, 1882 and January 9, 1907. It would also include land added to the reservation on August 29, 1893; March 11, 1907; February 21, 1931; May 25, 1931; August 12, 1971; August 8, 1988; November 1, 1988; and October 10, 2008. The bill would also cover contiguous land held in trust for the Band and contiguous land in the Santa Margarita River Watershed placed into trust after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov