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To provide for the exchange of certain lands in Gilpin County, Colorado.

Public Law 104-158 · H.R. 2437 · 104th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jul 9, 1996 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Scott McInnis (R-CO-3)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Lake Gulch, Inc., a Colorado corporation, specified lands in Gilpin County, Colorado, in exchange for: (1) certain lands comprising approximately 40 acres located in Larimer County, Colorado, within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park; (2) certain lands located within and adjacent to the United States Bureau of Land Management San Luis Resource Area in Conejos County, Colorado; and (3) certain lands located within the United States Bureau of Land Management Royal Gorge Resource Area in Huerfano County, Colorado.

Allows the Secretary of the Interior and Lake Gulch to agree to substitute alternative lands if one or more of the precise offered land parcels is unable to be conveyed. Authorizes the Secretary, in the public interest, to transfer to Lake Gulch additional lands upon transfer to the Secretary of additional offered lands or payment of cash equalization money.

Directs the Secretary, prior to transferring any lands which are contiguous to North Clear Creek out of public ownership, to notify and consult with Gilpin County and the City of Black Hawk and afford such units of local government the opportunity to acquire or reserve easements or rights-of-way parallel to North Clear Creek for public utility line or recreation path needs.

Provides that the exchange will be contingent upon Lake Gulch executing an agreement with the United States: (1) containing terms which are acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior; (2) granting the United States a covenant that none of the selected lands (which currently lie outside the legally approved gaming area) will ever be used for gaming; and (3) permanently holding the United States harmless for liability and indemnifying the United States against all costs arising from activities, operations, or other acts conducted by Lake Gulch or its employees, agents, successors or assigns on the selected lands after their transfer to Lake Gulch.

Expresses the intent of the Congress that unless the Secretary and Lake Gulch mutually agree otherwise, the exchange shall be completed within six months or the Secretary, upon application by Lake Gulch, shall sell to Lake Gulch the parcels identified for conveyance to Lake Gulch.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.

  1. Jul 9, 1996Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-158.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jun 28, 1996PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jun 26, 1996FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Dec 21, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  6. Dec 6, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  7. Nov 9, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  8. Nov 8, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. Nov 7, 1995FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  10. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  11. FloorFloor · Mr. Cooley moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  12. Nov 6, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Oct 25, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  14. Oct 17, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Oct 10, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Sep 29, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  18. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.