S. 3194 — Reported in Senate

II Calendar No. 646 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3194 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 18, 2025Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Schiff) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources September 17, 2026Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in California as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act. 2. Study (a) In general The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the State of California, local organizations and governmental agencies, Tribal Governments, nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities, including the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, shall conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the areas described in subsection (b) as a National Heritage Area, to be known as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area. (b) Description of study area The areas to be studied under subsection (a) include— (1) Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties in the State of California; and (2) any other area in the State of California that— (A) has heritage aspects that are similar to the heritage aspects of an area described in paragraph (1); and (B) is adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, an area described in paragraph (1). (c) Applicable Law The study required under subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 120103(a) of title 54, United States Code. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act. 2. Study (a) Definition of Tribal government In this section, the term Tribal government means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) on the most recent list published by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). (b) Study required The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the State of California, local organizations and governmental agencies, Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and other appropriate entities, including the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, shall conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the areas described in subsection (c) as a National Heritage Area, to be known as the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area. (c) Description of study area The areas to be studied under subsection (b) include— (1) Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo counties in the State of California; and (2) any other area in the State of California that— (A) has heritage aspects that are similar to the heritage aspects of an area described in paragraph (1); and (B) is adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, an area described in paragraph (1). (d) Applicable Law The study required under subsection (b) shall be conducted in accordance with section 120103(a) of title 54, United States Code. September 17, 2026Reported with an amendment