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This bill would clear up a property boundary problem in Chester County, Tennessee. It tells the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to give up the federal government’s remaining claim to a small piece of State forest land in Chickasaw State Forest, so the land can stay with Tennessee without the risk that it will revert back to the federal government. It also transfers the federal mineral rights in that same parcel to the State. The change is meant to solve an encroachment issue involving Bethel Baptist Church, which is built slightly onto the State-owned land.
- The land involved is a small parcel of about 0.62 acres in Chickasaw State Forest in Henderson, Tennessee.
- A recent survey found that Bethel Baptist Church extends about 19 inches onto this State-owned forest land.
- The bill releases the federal government’s reversionary interest, which means the United States would no longer have the right to take the land back if it stops being used for public purposes.
- The bill also gives Tennessee the federal mineral interest in the parcel through a quitclaim deed, and it says this must be done without payment, appraisal, environmental review, or other added review steps.
Tennessee would have to pay any administrative costs the federal government incurs in carrying out the land and mineral rights transfer.
Official Summaries
This bill provides for the transfer of the Forest Service's interest in the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land within the Chickasaw State Forest to the state of Tennessee in order to resolve the encroachment of Bethel Baptist Church on that parcel. Both the parcel and the church are located in Chester County, Tennessee.
On August 12, 1955, the Forest Service conveyed the parcel to the state but retained a reversionary interest in the land that takes effect if the state forest land ceases to be used for public purposes. The bill directs the Forest Service to release the reversionary interest to the state.
Additionally, the Forest Service must convey to the state its mineral interest in the parcel. The conveyance must be done by quitclaim deed and without warranty or consideration (such as payment).
As a condition of the release and the conveyance, the state must pay for any administrative costs incurred by the Forest Service in carrying out the release and conveyance. The Forest Service must release the reversionary interest and convey the parcel without undertaking any appraisal, environmental review, or other report.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 277 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 207
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 277
To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests
in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2025
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
October 27, 2025
Reported by Mr. Boozman, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests
in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CHESTER COUNTY REVERSIONARY AND MINERAL INTERESTS RELEASE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) within the parcel of State forest land located in
Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee, a recent survey by the
State determined that Bethel Baptist Church is encroaching on
State-owned land in Chickasaw State Forest by approximately 19
inches;
(2) the parcel described in paragraph (1) was conveyed to
the State by the Department of Agriculture, which retained a
reversionary interest in the land; and
(3) it is necessary to release the interests of the United
States in and to that land to resolve the encroachment issue
described in paragraph (1).
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
Tennessee.
(3) State forest land.--The term ``State forest land''
means the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land in Chickasaw
State Forest that is identified as ``State Forest Land'' on the
map prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``State Forest Land
Detail Map'' and dated December 13, 2019.
(c) Release of Reversionary Interest.--
(1) Release.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall release,
without consideration, the reversionary interest
described in paragraph (2).
(B) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any requirement
for a grant of land under section 32(c) of The
Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(c)) or
any other provision of law, the release under
subparagraph (A) shall occur without any appraisal,
other report, or environmental or similar review being
undertaken.
(2) Description of reversionary interest.--The reversionary
interest referred to in paragraph (1)(A) is the reversionary
interest of the United States in and to the State forest land
that--
(A) takes effect if the State forest land ceases to
be used for public purposes; and
(B) was created by the deed--
(i) granting from the United States to the
State the State forest land;
(ii) dated August 12, 1955; and
(iii) registered on pages 588 through 591
of book 48 of the record of deeds for Chester
County, Tennessee.
(3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the release under
paragraph (1), the State shall pay to the United States any
administrative costs incurred by the United States in carrying
out the release.
(d) Conveyance of Mineral Rights.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any requirement for the
conveyance of Federal mineral interests under section 209 of
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1719), part 2720 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations), or any other provision of law, the
Secretary shall convey to the State, by quitclaim deed, without
warranty, and without consideration, the mineral interest in
the State forest land owned by the United States.
(2) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the conveyance under paragraph (1) shall occur--
(A) without any exploratory program as to the
character of the mineral deposits in the land;
(B) without any findings as to known mineral values
and mineral development of the land; and
(C) without any appraisal, other report, or
environmental or similar review being undertaken by the
Secretary.
(3) Payment of costs.--As a condition of the conveyance
under paragraph (1), the State shall pay to the United States
any administrative costs incurred by the United States in
carrying out the conveyance.
Calendar No. 207
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 277
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests
in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 27, 2025
Reported without amendment