sale of federal land reversionary interests

Full Title:
Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act

Summary#

This bill requires the Interior Department (through the Bureau of Land Management) to sell the United States’ reversionary interests in about 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California, to the current private parcel owners who ask to buy them. The sales must be for at least fair market value, based on federal appraisal standards, and buyers must pay sale-related costs. The stated aim is to transfer those federal reversionary interests to the private owners while protecting an existing railroad right‑of‑way.

  • Main change: BLM must offer and convey U.S. reversionary interests in the specified Sacramento parcels to the recorded parcel owners who request them, within two years of a request.
  • Price rule: Sales must be at or above fair market value, determined by federal appraisal rules.
  • Buyer pays costs: Buyers must pay surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs in addition to the price.
  • Proceeds: Money from the sales goes into the Federal Land Disposal Account and is used under that law.
  • Limits: The law preserves a railroad right‑of‑way (not reduced below 50 feet each side of the main track) and does not validate claims such as adverse possession that are not already confirmed by the railroad.

What it means for you#

  • Owners of the affected parcels: If you are the recorded owner of one of the parcels covered by the bill, you can request to buy the federal government’s reversionary interest for only the parcel(s) you own. The Secretary must offer and convey the interest within two years after your request, once you pay the appraised price and related costs. Buying removes the federal reversionary claim on your parcel.
  • People buying, selling, or financing those parcels: Removing a federal reversionary interest could make title clearer and make it easier to sell or mortgage the land. You will likely face the appraisal and purchase costs described above.
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Interior Department staff: BLM must process requests, order appraisals and surveys, and complete conveyances. The department must follow federal appraisal standards and deposit proceeds into the Federal Land Disposal Account.
  • Railroad companies (Southern Pacific Transportation Company): The bill preserves an existing right‑of‑way and prevents reducing that right‑of‑way below the stated width.
  • General public / taxpayers: Proceeds go to a federal account for land transactions. The bill removes a federal interest from private property, but the direct public programmatic change is limited to these specific parcels.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on a formal fiscal estimate for this bill was provided with the text.

  • Buyers must pay the appraised fair market value plus all related costs (surveys, appraisals, administrative costs).
  • Sale proceeds go to the Federal Land Disposal Account to be used under that law.
  • The bill will likely require BLM staff time and administrative work (appraisals, processing conveyances). The text does not give an estimate of those federal administrative costs or staffing needs.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill appears intended to remove a federal reversionary claim that encumbers private parcels, giving owners clearer title.
  • It would allow owners to obtain full ownership of their parcels by paying fair market value and related costs.
  • The sale proceeds are directed to an existing federal land-disposal fund rather than general revenue.
  • The bill preserves an existing railroad right‑of‑way, so it does not reduce that specific public use.

Opponents' View#

  • One concern is that the bill does not include a public fiscal estimate; administrative costs to BLM (appraisals, surveys, staff time) are not quantified.
  • It is unclear whether environmental reviews or other federal reviews (for example under historic‑preservation laws) are required before conveyance.
  • The bill relies on appraisals to set price, but it does not specify how existing easements or rights (which may lower value) will be treated in valuation; that could affect sale price fairness.
  • Conveying federal reversionary interests removes a federal control option over these lands, which some may see as a loss of public flexibility for future needs.
  • The exact parcels and map referenced are not included in the bill text provided here, so it is unclear precisely which pieces of land and how many owners are affected.