Summary#
This bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to give up (release) a federal reversionary interest in about 31.83 acres of the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin. The release is tied to a planned land swap: Wisconsin would give that state forest land to a private company, Deli, Inc., and Deli would give about 37.27 acres to the State to add to the state forest. The broad goal is to let the State and Deli complete that exchange by removing the federal condition that the parcel remain in public use forever.
- Main change: the federal government would quitclaim (give up) any interest it has that could cause the land to revert to the United States if it stops being used for public purposes.
- Condition: the release happens only if the State agrees in writing to convey the State forest land to Deli, Inc. in exchange for Deli land.
- Timing and form: the Secretary must provide a recordable quitclaim deed without payment and before the exchange deeds are recorded. The Secretary may correct the legal description if needed.
- Law affected: the reversionary interest comes from a federal law that requires certain lands received from the federal government to be used for public purposes in perpetuity.
- What is unclear: the bill does not set conditions on future private use of the parcel after transfer, nor does it say whether the land values are equal or how the exchange was appraised.
What it means for you#
- Deli, Inc. (private company): If the State and Deli complete the swap, Deli could receive about 31.83 acres of former state forest land. That land would no longer be subject to the federal rule requiring permanent public use.
- State of Wisconsin / Wisconsin DNR: The State could convey that part of Black River State Forest to Deli in exchange for about 37.27 acres that the State would add to the Black River State Forest. The State must offer the swap in writing for the federal release to occur.
- Visitors and the public who use Black River State Forest: Part of the forest could move from state public ownership into private ownership. The bill does not say whether current public access or conservation restrictions would continue after the transfer.
- Federal government (USDA): The Secretary of Agriculture must prepare and deliver a quitclaim deed to release the federal reversionary interest if the State makes the required offer.
- Local community/businesses: The swap could support the local business named in the bill (Deli, Inc.) and change which parcels are in the public forest versus private use. The bill does not detail zoning, land-use limits, or future development.
Expenses#
No publicly available information.
- The bill text does not include a fiscal note, budget estimate, or specific cost figures.
- Possible, but unspecified, administrative costs include preparing and recording the quitclaim deed and any land-description corrections.
- There is no payment required from the State or Deli to the federal government in exchange for the release (the deed is to be provided "without consideration").
Proponents' View#
- The bill appears intended to allow a planned land exchange to go forward by removing a federal legal barrier (the reversionary interest).
- Supporters may argue this will let the State add different parcels to the state forest while transferring a less-suited parcel to a local business.
- The release by quitclaim could be seen as a straightforward administrative step to finalize an agreed swap between the State and a private party.
- Allowing the swap could support a local company’s operations (sphagnum moss production) while maintaining or increasing overall acres in the state forest (since the State would receive different land).
Opponents' View#
- One concern is that releasing the federal reversionary interest removes a legal protection that required the land remain in public use in perpetuity, which could allow private development or loss of recreational land.
- The bill does not say what future uses are allowed on the transferred parcel or whether environmental or public-access protections will remain.
- It is unclear whether the swap is an equal exchange in value or conservation value; the bill does not require or describe an appraisal or public review.
- The bill provides no fiscal estimate, so effects on federal, state, or local budgets are not detailed.
- This sets a precedent of releasing federal reversionary interests for specific, named transactions without broader rules or public conditions.