The Lytton
Band of Pomo Indians in California has agreed to additional gaming restrictions in a land-into-trust bill that is due for a markup on Capitol Hill.
H.R.2538, the Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act, already included a gaming prohibition on 511 acres in Sonoma County. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California) will modify the bill to address future acquisitions, The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported.
Specifically, the tribe would never be allowed to open a casino on any lands north of State Route 12 or south of the highway for 22 years, the paper said. The tribe already operates the San Pablo Lytton Casino in San Pablo, south of the highway.
If the Bureau of Indian Affairs approves the tribe's land-into-trust application, the 511 acres could conceivably be used for gaming. Future acquisitions could also open the door for a casino, Huffman said.
"I do feel a sense of urgency for this, given the fact the Obama administration is winding down and the indication if Congress can’t get this done, the BIA will,” Huffman told the Press-Democrat.
The House Natural Resources Committee is considering the bill at a markup session that begins Tuesday afternoon and concludes on Wednesday morning.
Get the Story:
Sonoma County officials defend Windsor deal with Lytton tribe
(The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 2/2)
$P Committee Notices:
Full
Committee Markup on 18 Bills (February 2, 2016)
Full
Committee Markup on 18 Bills (February 3, 2016)
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