Last progress October 21, 2025 (1 month ago)
Introduced on January 3, 2025 by Peter Stauber
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H242-243)
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
This bill lets the U.S. Forest Service swap a small piece of federal land by Lake Winnibigoshish in Minnesota with land owned by Big Winnie Land and Timber, if the company offers the trade. The federal piece is about 17.5 acres, and the company would provide about 36.7 acres in return. The new land the government gets would be added to the Chippewa National Forest and managed like the rest of the forest .
The swap has to be fair in value, based on independent appraisals. If the federal land is worth more, the company pays cash to even it out. If the company’s land is worth more, the government does not pay; the difference counts as a donation from the company . The Forest Service keeps a right to use a road across the traded area to reach other public land. The company must complete an environmental site review and pay all closing and survey costs. If the company offers the trade, the Forest Service has up to one year to complete it. Maps and legal descriptions are finished soon after the law takes effect and kept on file with the Forest Service .