HR952-119

What This Bill Does

The Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act authorizes BLM to release federal reversionary interests in roughly 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California. The covered land is under BLM administrative jurisdiction and is shown on the November 7, 2022 map titled Lands Proposed for Release from Any and All Reversionary Interests of the United States, including interests under the Act of July 1, 1862. A buyer must be the owner of record of a parcel in the covered land and may request purchase only for parcels the buyer owns. Within two years after receiving a request, the Secretary of the Interior must offer the applicable reversionary interest and convey it after payment of the appraised value. The conveyance is subject to valid existing rights and must be for at least fair market value under FLPMA appraisal standards, the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, and USPAP. Buyers must also pay surveys, appraisals, and administrative costs, and proceeds go to the Federal Land Disposal Account.

Who Benefits and How

Current owners of record for the Sacramento parcels benefit because they can buy out federal reversionary interests and obtain clearer title. Sacramento property developers and lenders benefit if the parcels become easier to finance, sell, or improve after the federal reversionary claim is removed. BLM benefits from a statutory process and fair-market-value payment rather than ad hoc title resolution. The Federal Land Disposal Account benefits because sale proceeds are deposited there and used under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act. Southern Pacific Transportation Company right-of-way interests benefit because the bill preserves the rail corridor width.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Parcel owners who request conveyance must pay the appraised fair market value plus all survey, appraisal, and administrative costs. The Secretary of the Interior and BLM realty staff must process requests, determine appraised value, offer conveyance within two years, and handle valid existing rights. Claimants relying on adverse possession, prescription, or abandonment bear a burden because the bill refuses to validate or confirm those claims unless Southern Pacific Transportation Company conveyed the right or title before enactment.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes BLM to convey federal reversionary interests in approximately 8.43 acres of Sacramento land.
• Limits eligible buyers to current owners of record for the parcels covered by their requests.
• Requires the Secretary to offer the applicable reversionary interest within two years after receiving a buyer request.
• Requires payment of not less than fair market value using federal land appraisal standards.
• Requires buyers to pay survey, appraisal, and administrative conveyance costs.
• Deposits proceeds in the Federal Land Disposal Account for use under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act.
• Preserves at least a 50-foot rail right-of-way on each side of the Southern Pacific main track and rejects unconfirmed adverse-possession claims.