H.R. 8546 – Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act

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Updated May 7, 2026 at 9:22 AM UTC

This bill makes technical corrections to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act. It clarifies which lands are considered part of the tribe’s reservation, expands the types of water‑quality projects the tribe can pursue, and directs the Interior Secretary to update the settlement agreement to reflect these changes. The changes affect the Pechanga Band, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and water‑rights administration in the Santa Margarita River watershed.

Key Provisions

Updates the legal definition of the Pechanga reservation to list specific executive‑order lands and dates, and adds language that includes any contiguous trust land within the Santa Margarita River watershed that is placed in trust after the enforceability date.
Expands the permitted uses of the Pechanga Water Quality Account by replacing “groundwater desalination activities within the Wolf Valley Basin” with broader “activities to address water quality issues within the Wolf Valley Basin.”
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to promptly amend the Pechanga Settlement Agreement and any exhibits to align with these technical changes.
Clarifies that the amendments do not affect the satisfaction of any existing conditions precedent, the enforceability date, or any water rights that existed before the bill’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

September 10, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 28, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

April 28, 2026

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

September 10, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 28, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8546

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2026

Mr. Issa (for himself and Mr. Calvert) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act to make technical corrections, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act.

2.

Pechanga Band of Indians water rights settlement technical amendments

(a)

Definition of Reservation

Section 3403(33) of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act (Public Law 114–322; 130 Stat. 1757) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by striking means the land and all that follows through the period at the end of the subparagraph and inserting the following:

means—

(i)

land set aside for the Band by the Executive order dated June 27, 1882;

(ii)

land set aside for the Band by the Executive order dated January 9, 1907; and

(iii)

land added to the reservation of the Band on any of the following dates:

(I)

August 29, 1893.

(II)

March 11, 1907.

(III)

February 21, 1931.

(IV)

May 25, 1931.

(V)

August 12, 1971.

(VI)

August 8, 1988.

(VII)

November 1, 1988.

(VIII)

October 10, 2008.

;

(2)

by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and

(3)

by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

(B)

Inclusions

The term Reservation includes—

(i)

any contiguous land held in trust by the United States for the Band on the enforceability date; and

(ii)

any contiguous land—

(I)

located within the Santa Margarita River Watershed; and

(II)

placed into trust by the United States for the Band after the enforceability date.

.

(b)

Additional uses of Pechanga Water Quality account

Section 3409(h)(4) of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act (Public Law 114–322; 130 Stat. 1769) is amended by striking groundwater desalination activities within the Wolf Valley Basin and inserting activities to address water quality issues within the Wolf Valley Basin.

(c)

Effect of section

(1)

Definition of Pechanga Settlement Agreement

In this subsection, the term Pechanga Settlement Agreement has the meaning given that term in section 3403 of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act (Public Law 114–322; 130 Stat. 1755).

(2)

Pechanga Settlement Agreement

(A)

Finding

Congress finds that the parties to the Pechanga Settlement Agreement have agreed to amend the Pechanga Settlement Agreement (and any exhibit to the Pechanga Settlement Agreement) as necessary to conform the Pechanga Settlement Agreement (and the exhibits to the Pechanga Settlement Agreement) in accordance with the amendments made by this section.

(B)

Authorization

The Secretary of the Interior shall promptly execute the amendments to the Pechanga Settlement Agreement (or any exhibit to the Pechanga Settlement Agreement) described in subparagraph (A).

(3)

Enforceability date

Nothing in this section (or an amendment made by this section) affects—

(A)

the status of satisfaction of any condition precedent described in section 3407(e) of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act (Public Law 114–322; 130 Stat. 1765); or

(B)

the validity of the finding published by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to that section on October 1, 2020, in the notice entitled Statement of Findings: Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Water Rights Settlement Act (85 Fed. Reg. 61966) that those conditions precedent were fully satisfied.

(4)

Existing water rights

Nothing in this section alters, or requires the alteration of, any water right in existence on the date of enactment of this Act.