AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 20, 2026
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2026
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
97
URGENCY STATUTE
Introduced by Assembly Member Wallis
February 19, 2026
An act to amend Section 19819 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to gambling. add Section 12012.126 to the Government Code, relating to tribal gaming, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
Existing federal law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, provides for the negotiation and execution of tribal-state gaming compacts for the purpose of authorizing certain types of gaming on Indian lands within a state. The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to negotiate and conclude those compacts, subject to ratification by the Legislature. Existing law expressly ratifies a number of tribal-state gaming compacts, and amendments to tribal-state gaming compacts, between the State of California and specified Indian tribes.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project, as defined, that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment, as defined, or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect.
This bill would ratify the first amendment to the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, executed on July 13, 2026. The bill would provide that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions related to this amended compact are not projects for the purposes of CEQA.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
This bill would additionally require the commission to post a public record of every vote on the commission’s internet website no later than the close of business on the 2nd business day after the meeting at which the vote was taken.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12012.126 is added to the Government Code, to read:
12012.126.
(a) The first amendment to the tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, executed on July 13, 2026, entered into in accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. Secs. 1166 to 1168, inclusive, and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq.), is hereby ratified.
(b) (1) In deference to tribal sovereignty, none of the following shall be deemed a project for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code):
(A) The execution of an amendment to a tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(B) The execution of an amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(C) The execution of an intergovernmental agreement between a tribe and a county or city government negotiated pursuant to the express authority of, or as expressly referenced in, an amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(D) The execution of an intergovernmental agreement between a tribe and the Department of Transportation, or other state agency, negotiated pursuant to the express authority of, or as expressly referenced in, an amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(E) The on-reservation impacts of compliance with the terms of an amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(2) Except as expressly provided in this section, this subdivision does not exempt a city, county, or city and county, or the Department of Transportation, or any state agency or local jurisdiction, from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
SEC. 2.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to enhance the economic development, stability, and self-sufficiency of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and to protect the interests of this tribe and its members, the surrounding communities, and the California public at the earliest possible time, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
Section 19819 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
19819.
(a) The commission shall establish and maintain a general office for the transaction of its business in Sacramento. The commission may hold meetings at any place within the state when the interests of the public may be better served.
(b) A public record of every vote shall be maintained at the commission’s principal office and posted on the commission’s internet website no later than the close of business of the second business day after the meeting at which the vote was taken.
(c) A majority of the membership of the commission is a quorum of the commission. The concurring vote of three members of the commission shall be required for any official action of the commission or for the exercise of any of the commission’s duties, powers, or functions.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code applies to meetings of the commission. Notwithstanding Section 11125.1 of the Government Code, documents that are filed with the commission by the department for the purpose of evaluating the qualifications of an applicant are exempt from disclosure under Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code.