LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed measures by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) to ratify key intergovernmental agreements between the state and seven Native American tribes — including one from Lake County — for the purposes of gaming.

“These compacts help enhance economic stability and self-sufficiency among California’s first people while providing revenue and good-paying jobs for thousands of others across our state,” Sen. Dodd said. “It’s a win for everyone and I thank Gov. Newsom for his support.”

The Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 provides for the negotiation and execution of tribal-state gaming compacts for authorizing certain types of gaming on Indian lands.

The California Constitution authorizes the governor to negotiate and conclude those compacts, subject to ratification by the Legislature. The agreements would take effect immediately.

These compacts will provide tens of millions of dollars in revenue to local communities, funding wildfire prevention efforts and assisting nongaming tribes with critical services, from health care and education to infrastructure and preservation of tribal lands, Dodd’s office reported.

Senate Bill 931 was approved by the Assembly and Senate before the governor signed it. It applies to the following tribes:

• The Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Campo Indian Reservation;
• The La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta Indian Reservation;
• The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe; and
• The Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria, based on 50 acres near Clearlake Oaks in Lake County.

Also, the bill amends compacts with the following tribes:

• Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians;
• The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians; and
• The Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria.

Regarding Elem Colony, Dodd’s office said the compact provides what the tribe can do in terms of gaming operations, but they can decide if and when to build that out.

Elem reportedly has plans for a casino in the future but the tribe currently is focused on building a travel center in Clearlake.

The Senate Floor Analysis on SB 931 explains that the compact with Elem authorizes the tribe to operate a maximum of 349 slot machines at no more than two gaming facilities located on eligible Indian lands held in trust for the tribe and located within the boundaries of the tribe’s reservation.