Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act of 2026

This bill transfers approximately 18,628 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service to the Department of the Interior to be held in trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, making it part of the Grand Ronde Reservation. Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms including 'Grand Ronde' as the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, 'Grand Ronde Conveyance Land' as about 18,628 acres shown on a Forest Service map dated July 23, 2026, 'Map' as that map, and 'Secretary' as the Secretary of the Interior. Sec. 3, Land to be held in trust: Transfers administrative jurisdiction from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior, and all U.S. rights and interests in the land (including improvements, appurtenances, and subsurface interests like oil and gas) are held in trust for Grand Ronde, subject to existing rights. The land becomes part of the Grand Ronde Reservation and is administered under standard trust property laws. Within two years, the Secretary must provide a legal description and survey; the survey controls if conflicts arise. The map and description have legal force, and are publicly available. The trust takes effect the day after the Secretary records an agreement under section 4(c)(1). Sec. 4, Administration of Grand Ronde Conveyance Land: Existing tribal rights or claims are unaffected. Federal laws on exporting unprocessed logs apply to logs from this land. The land cannot be used for class II or III gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Within 180 days, the Secretary must secure an agreement with Grand Ronde for administrative access, and provide all existing reciprocal right-of-way and cooperative agreements, which Grand Ronde must continue in perpetuity. The land is exempt from certain federal land use planning laws, but forest management must follow federal and tribal laws. The land remains open for public hunting, fishing, and recreation, though Grand Ronde may restrict access for safety, administration, or wildlife management.