Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act of 2026
Transfers federal land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, while preserving public access and prohibiting gaming.
In the Senate Indian Affairs Committee since Sept. 17, 2026, 19 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 17, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Federal land can be placed in trust for a tribe, changing who administers it and which rules apply. This bill would transfer land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and make it part of the Tribe’s reservation. It would preserve public recreation subject to exceptions, set access and forest-management rules, and prohibit gaming on the land.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Transfer federal land into tribal trust
The bill transfers administrative jurisdiction from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior and places the United States’ interests in approximately 18,628 acres in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. The land would become part of the Grand Ronde Reservation and be administered under laws generally applying to tribal trust property.
- Set rules for land use and access
The land would no longer be subject to specified federal land-use planning requirements. Forest management would have to follow applicable federal and tribal laws, and the land would remain open to the public for hunting, fishing, and recreation, subject to tribal restrictions for safety, administration, fish or wildlife management, or emergencies.
- Secure access agreements
The Interior Secretary must enter an agreement with the Tribe securing the Secretary’s existing administrative access within 180 days after enactment. At that time, the Secretary must provide the Tribe existing reciprocal rights-of-way and cooperative agreements; the Tribe must continue the access those agreements provide in perpetuity once the land is held in trust.
- Restrict gaming and log exports
The land could not be used for class II or class III gaming. Federal laws and regulations on exporting unprocessed logs harvested from federal land would continue to apply to unprocessed logs harvested there.
- Survey and describe the land
Within two years after enactment, the Interior Secretary must provide a legal description and complete a boundary survey. If the survey conflicts with a map, acreage estimate, or description, the survey controls unless the Secretary and the Tribe agree otherwise.
The practical difference is who administers the land and which land-use rules apply. The bill would place it in trust for the Tribe while preserving public recreation and specified access arrangements, and it would bar gaming on the land.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 17, 2026SENATESEP 17, 2026By Sen. Merkley with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Indian Affairs
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 17, 2026INDIAN AFFAIRS NOWSEP 17, 2026In committee for 19 daysNo hearing yet
- 19 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 172026SEP 17, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- SEP 172026SEP 17, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 19, this bill is already older than 6% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Merkley’s record: sponsored 137 bills this Congress. 7 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Ron WydenD-ORORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
Get an alert when it changes stage, gets a floor vote in the Senate, or is signed into law.