HR 952: Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act

HR 952 in plain English: This bill directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell the U.S. government's reversionary interest in approximately 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California. The sale must occur within two years of a request from the landowner, at no less than fair market value, with the buyer covering all related costs. Sale proceeds would be deposited into the Federal Land Disposal Account.

Stated purpose

This bill directs the Bureau of Land Management to sell its reversionary interest in approximately 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California, to the current private owners of those parcels upon their request and payment of fair market value.

Key points

• Requires BLM to sell the U.S. reversionary interest in about 8.43 acres in Sacramento, California
• Sale must be completed within two years of a request from the current landowner
• Sale price must be at least fair market value of the reversionary interest
• Buyer pays all costs including surveys, appraisals, and administrative fees
• Proceeds from the sale go into the Federal Land Disposal Account

Arguments supporters make

• Private landowners should have a clear, unencumbered title to their property, and removing an old federal reversionary interest helps achieve that.
• The federal government retains no ongoing use for this reversionary interest, so selling it at fair market value turns an idle claim into funds for federal land programs.
• The buyer pays all costs including surveys and appraisals, so taxpayers bear no financial burden from the transaction.

Arguments opponents make

• Selling off federal reversionary interests permanently gives up any future public claim or use of this land, which cannot be undone later.
• This is a site-specific deal for a small parcel that benefits particular private landowners, raising questions about whether it sets a precedent for similar transfers elsewhere.
• Fair market value for a reversionary interest can be difficult to appraise accurately, and the public has no easy way to verify the government received full value.

Tradeoffs

Private landowners gain clear title and freedom from a federal reversionary claim, but the public permanently gives up whatever future interest or leverage that claim represented; the sale generates revenue for federal land programs, but only if the reversionary interest is accurately valued.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.

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