Sponsors (2)
The bill clears the way for a specific land exchange that modestly enlarges public forest acreage and streamlines the legal transfer, but it also hands several acres of public forest to a private company, forgoes federal payment, and could weaken protections for public-purpose lands.
State of Wisconsin can complete a land exchange more smoothly because the bill provides a recordable quitclaim deed from the USDA and allows minor legal-description corrections to avoid technical delays.
Residents and visitors in the Black River State Forest area (and the State) gain approximately 37.27 acres of additional public forest land for conservation and recreation.
About 31.83 acres of currently public-use State forest land would be conveyed to a private company (Deli, Inc.), reducing land held for perpetual public-purpose use.
The quitclaim deed conveys the United States' reversionary interest without receiving any payment, meaning taxpayers forego consideration for federal property rights.
Approving this exchange could set a precedent for converting lands with federal reversionary interests to private use via exchanges, potentially weakening protections for lands held for public purposes.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Conditions federal release of a reversionary interest in ~31.83 acres of Black River State Forest on a land exchange with Deli, Inc., and requires a quitclaim deed to the State upon agreement.
Official title: Require the Secretary of Agriculture to release a reversionary interest in certain land in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 2, 2025 by Ron Johnson · Last progress April 2, 2025
Conditions the U.S. release of its reversionary interest in about 31.83 acres of Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin on a land swap where the State conveys that forest land to Deli, Inc. in exchange for roughly 37.27 acres owned or optioned by Deli, Inc. If the State signs a written agreement to make that exchange, the Secretary of Agriculture must promptly quitclaim the federal interest to the State for recording prior to the exchange deeds. Defines the parcels involved, identifies Deli, Inc., and references a controlling map dated June 26, 2023. The Secretary may consult with the State to correct legal descriptions before delivering the quitclaim deed; there are no new appropriations or program authorizations in the text.