Agua Caliente chairman says amendment aligns compact with case law, allows device increase

Matthew Lee summarized the Agua Caliente amendment as materially similar to Pechanga's: a not‑to‑sue promise over certain revenue terms, restructured lump‑sum and per‑device payments to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, and an extra 500 devices in device allotment. "The short version is that it's a larger lump sum and a smaller per device variable payment," Lee said.

Jeff Grube, the tribe's chairman (self‑identified in testimony), described the amendment as an update to align with recent legal changes and preserve a path for growth while maintaining support for limited and non‑gaming tribes. "Working with Governor Newsom, his senior advisor for tribal negotiations Matthew Lee and the attorney general's tribal compact advisors was a straightforward, efficient, and most importantly, a respectful process," Grube said. He asked the committee to support ratification when the bill reaches the floor.