119-s277

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 277 Reported in Senate

    (RS) ]

<DOC>

 Calendar No. 207
119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 277

To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests 
 in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 January 28, 2025

 Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

 October 27, 2025

 Reported by Mr. Boozman, without amendment

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests 
 in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CHESTER COUNTY REVERSIONARY AND MINERAL INTERESTS RELEASE.

    (a) 

=== Findings ===
-Congress finds that--

    (1) within the parcel of State forest land located in 
 Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee, a recent survey by the 
 State determined that Bethel Baptist Church is encroaching on 
 State-owned land in Chickasaw State Forest by approximately 19 
 inches;

    (2) the parcel described in paragraph

    (1) was conveyed to 
 the State by the Department of Agriculture, which retained a 
 reversionary interest in the land; and

    (3) it is necessary to release the interests of the United 
 States in and to that land to resolve the encroachment issue 
 described in paragraph

    (1) .

    (b) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Agriculture.

    (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
 Tennessee.

    (3) State forest land.--The term ``State forest land'' 
 means the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land in Chickasaw 
 State Forest that is identified as ``State Forest Land'' on the 
 map prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``State Forest Land 
 Detail Map'' and dated December 13, 2019.
            (c) Release of Reversionary Interest.--

    (1) Release.--
        (A) In general.--The Secretary shall release, 
 without consideration, the reversionary interest 
 described in paragraph

    (2) .
        (B) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any requirement 
 for a grant of land under 

section 32
            (c) of The 
 Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011
            (c) ) or 
 any other provision of law, the release under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall occur without any appraisal, 
 other report, or environmental or similar review being 
 undertaken.

    (2) Description of reversionary interest.--The reversionary 
 interest referred to in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) is the reversionary 
 interest of the United States in and to the State forest land 
 that--
        (A) takes effect if the State forest land ceases to 
 be used for public purposes; and
        (B) was created by the deed--
            (i) granting from the United States to the 
 State the State forest land;
            (ii) dated August 12, 1955; and
            (iii) registered on pages 588 through 591 
 of book 48 of the record of deeds for Chester 
 County, Tennessee.

    (3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the release under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the State shall pay to the United States any 
 administrative costs incurred by the United States in carrying 
 out the release.
            (d) Conveyance of Mineral Rights.--

    (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any requirement for the 
 conveyance of Federal mineral interests under 

section 209 of 
 the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
 1719), part 2720 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
 successor regulations), or any other provision of law, the 
 Secretary shall convey to the State, by quitclaim deed, without 
 warranty, and without consideration, the mineral interest in 
 the State forest land owned by the United States.

    (2) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
 law, the conveyance under paragraph

    (1) shall occur--
        (A) without any exploratory program as to the 
 character of the mineral deposits in the land;
        (B) without any findings as to known mineral values 
 and mineral development of the land; and
            (C) without any appraisal, other report, or 
 environmental or similar review being undertaken by the 
 Secretary.

    (3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the conveyance 
 under paragraph

    (1) , the State shall pay to the United States 
 any administrative costs incurred by the United States in 
 carrying out the conveyance.
 Calendar No. 207

119th CONGRESS

 1st Session

 S. 277

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests 
 in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 October 27, 2025

 Reported without amendment