Sponsors
The bill enables Wisconsin to complete a land exchange and expand state forestland by clarifying and expediting deed and description corrections, but it reduces federal oversight of future land use and could shift some public land and legal/financial risk to private owners and taxpayers.
State of Wisconsin and local communities gain 37.27 acres added to Black River State Forest, expanding public forestland available for recreation, conservation, and ecosystem services.
State governments and land transaction counterparties face fewer procedural barriers because the Secretary must promptly deliver a recordable quitclaim deed and may correct legal descriptions in consultation with the State, reducing delays and legal uncertainty in completing the exchange.
Federal oversight bodies and local communities lose a layer of federal control because the bill releases a federal reversionary interest, weakening the federal mechanism intended to ensure perpetual public-purpose use of the land.
Rural communities and local stakeholders risk a net loss of land dedicated to the original public purpose because a private landowner (Deli, Inc.) receives a parcel while the State conveys forest parcels, potentially reducing public land availability or altering land uses.
Taxpayers and state governments may bear administrative costs and legal risk if deed corrections or processing lead to errors or disputes, shifting financial and legal burdens to the public sector.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Conditionally releases the U.S. reversionary interest in ~31.83 acres of Black River State Forest in Millston, WI upon a specified land exchange and requires the Secretary to issue a quitclaim deed.
Introduced October 28, 2025 by Derrick Van Orden · Last progress October 28, 2025
Conditions the release of the United States’ reversionary interest in about 31.83 acres of Black River State Forest land in Millston, Wisconsin when the State transfers that forest land to a private company (Deli, Inc.) in exchange for about 37.27 acres owned or optioned by that company. The Secretary of Agriculture must promptly provide a recordable quitclaim deed conveying any U.S. interest without payment and deliver it to the State for recording prior to the exchange deeds being recorded; the Secretary may correct the legal description in consultation with the State.