A bill to reaffirm the applicability of the Indian Reorganization Act to the Lytton Rancheria of California, and for other purposes.

# Summary of S 748 - Lytton Rancheria Indian Reorganization Act Bill **What the Bill Does** This bill allows the Lytton Rancheria, a Native American tribe in California, to benefit from the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA), a 1934 law that gives tribes certain rights to acquire and manage land. Specifically, it authorizes the Department of the Interior to purchase land and hold it in trust (legal ownership) for the tribe, which would become part of the tribe's reservation. The bill essentially restores the tribe's eligibility for these federal protections and benefits. **Why This Matters** The Lytton Rancheria lost access to these federal protections due to a 2009 Supreme Court ruling that prevented the government from taking land into trust for tribes that weren't under federal jurisdiction in 1934.

By passing this bill, Congress bypasses that court decision for this specific tribe. This affects the Lytton Rancheria's ability to develop its land, strengthen its sovereignty, and support its community economically and governmentally. **Current Status** The bill has passed the Senate and awaits action in the House of Representatives. It was sponsored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).