Sponsors (2)
The bill quickly resolves a localized title encroachment and transfers federal mineral interests to Tennessee at minimal administrative cost to the State, but it does so by waiving appraisal and environmental review and using a quitclaim that shifts risk, potentially reducing federal receipts and weakening oversight.
State and local governments (Tennessee): The bill clears a 0.62-acre title encroachment and conveys federal mineral interests to the State via quitclaim without purchase, resolving a local land-use issue and giving the State control over surface and subsurface rights.
Local and state governments: The transfer is exempted from appraisal and environmental review, speeding the administrative process and allowing faster resolution of the encroachment and local land-use decisions.
Taxpayers and local communities: Waiving environmental review removes protections that could identify impacts to land and subsurface resources, risking unassessed environmental harm.
Taxpayers: Conveying mineral rights without appraisal or exploratory valuation risks transferring valuable subsurface resources for less than fair market value, reducing potential federal receipts.
State and local governments (and taxpayers): Using a quitclaim deed shifts liability and limits remedies if title or mineral claims later surface, and bypassing normal statutory processes could set a precedent that weakens oversight for future transfers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Transfers federal reversionary and mineral interests in a 0.62-acre Chickasaw State Forest parcel to Tennessee without appraisal or environmental review, conditioned on state payment of administrative costs.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn · Last progress January 28, 2025
Conveys the United States' reversionary interest and any federal mineral interest in a 0.62-acre parcel of Chickasaw State Forest in Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee to the State of Tennessee. The transfer is to occur without consideration, appraisal, or environmental review, and the State must reimburse the United States for administrative costs; the federal mineral interest is conveyed by quitclaim deed without warranty.