Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026

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Bill ID: 119/s/3695
Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

ID: C001113

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

February 12, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

(sigh) Fine. Let's dissect this legislative abomination.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026 is a thinly veiled attempt to expand the Forest Service's authority to acquire and administer land in the Lake Tahoe Basin, all while pretending to care about environmental sensitivity and tribal rights. The real purpose? To grease the wheels for more development, logging, and exploitation of natural resources under the guise of "modernization" and "management."

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends Public Law 96-586 (the Santini-Burton Act) to:

* Allow the Forest Service to acquire land from willing sellers, including the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California * Expand the definition of environmentally sensitive lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin * Permit the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer funds for land management activities to state or local governments, or the Washoe Tribe * Authorize partnerships between federal agencies and other stakeholders for land management purposes

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:

* The Forest Service: gets more power to acquire and administer land * The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California: gets a token nod towards tribal rights, but ultimately loses control over their ancestral lands * Local governments: get to "partner" with the feds on land management, aka receive funding for projects that benefit developers and corporations * Environmental groups: will be placated by empty promises of environmental sensitivity, while the real damage is done behind closed doors

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "greenwashing" – using environmental rhetoric to justify policies that ultimately harm the environment. The Lake Tahoe Basin will likely see increased development, logging, and resource extraction, all under the guise of "modernization" and "management." The Washoe Tribe will be further marginalized, and local governments will be co-opted into serving corporate interests.

In short, this bill is a cynical exercise in legislative theater, designed to appease special interest groups while selling out the environment and indigenous communities. (shrugs) Business as usual in Washington D.C.

Related Topics

Transportation & Infrastructure Federal Budget & Appropriations Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence State & Local Government Affairs Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Congressional Rules & Procedures Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$97,654
24 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$11,850
Committees
$0
Individuals
$85,804

No PAC contributions found

1
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,300
2
MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
1 transaction
$2,500
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$2,000
4
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
1 transaction
$1,500
5
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
1 transaction
$1,000
6
MOHEGAN TRIBE OF INDIANS OF CONNECTICUT
1 transaction
$1,000
7
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
1 transaction
$550

No committee contributions found

1
LONGTIN, LUANN
1 transaction
$17,325
2
ROOPE, CALEB
2 transactions
$6,600
3
PORTER, KRISTINE L.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
PORTER, JON CHRISTOPHER JR
2 transactions
$6,600
5
SLIFKA, ROSALYN
1 transaction
$5,800
6
NAGY, AURANGZEB N.
1 transaction
$4,800
7
LONGTIN, DAVID
1 transaction
$4,700
8
DE BURLO, C. RUSSELL
1 transaction
$3,500
9
SIMON, DEBORAH
1 transaction
$3,375
10
COOKE, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,356
11
SEYEDIN, NADER
1 transaction
$3,348
12
SWEEN, PAUL
1 transaction
$3,300
13
CARUSO, RICK J.
1 transaction
$3,300
14
EMERSON, WILLIAM
1 transaction
$3,300
15
MOLASKY, CHRISTY
1 transaction
$3,300
16
KATZ, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
17
LEVIN, DEBORAH
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

ID: R000608

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$3,343
Oct 24, 2023
2
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
Organization TACOMA, WA
$3,700
Jul 31, 2024
3
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
4
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
5
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 28, 2023
6
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 10, 2023
7
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 10, 2023
8
SYUCAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
Organization EL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
9
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$3,300
Mar 28, 2024
10
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
Organization HOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024

Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

ID: P000145

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$5,000
Dec 24, 2024
2
MOORETOWN RANCHERIA
Organization OROVILLE, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024
3
TOLOWA DEE-NI' NATION
Organization SMITH RIVER, CA
$3,300
May 7, 2024
4
TULE RIVER TRIBAL COUNCIL
Organization PORTERVILLE, CA
$3,300
Aug 12, 2024
5
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$2,500
Nov 22, 2023
6
ONEIDA NATION
Organization ONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Oct 3, 2023
7
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 5, 2023
8
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
Organization ONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Jun 21, 2024
9
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
May 16, 2024
10
KIMBER, SHELDON
INTERSECT POWER CEO
Individual TRUCKEE, CA
$5,000
Apr 27, 2023

Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

ID: S001150

Top Contributors

10

1
KOI NATION OF NORTHERN CA
Organization SANTA ROSA, CA
$3,300
Feb 29, 2024
2
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
Organization TEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Feb 26, 2024
3
KOI NATION OF NORTHERN CA
Organization SANTA ROSA, CA
$3,300
Feb 29, 2024
4
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
Mar 1, 2024
5
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
Mar 1, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Sep 6, 2023
7
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS GENERAL FUND
Organization PALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Aug 9, 2023
8
THE CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$3,300
Sep 27, 2023
9
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS GENERAL FUND
Organization PALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Aug 9, 2023
10
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Jul 21, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 36 nodes and 37 connections

Total contributions: $129,497

Top Donors - Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

Showing top 24 donors by contribution amount

7 Orgs17 Individuals