A bill to 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.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill addresses a proposed land exchange in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin. The United States holds a reversionary interest under the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act requiring the state forest land to be used for public purposes in perpetuity. Wisconsin and Deli, Inc., a sphagnum moss production business, have agreed to exchange about 31.83 acres of state forest land for about 37.27 acres of Deli land that would be added to the Black River State Forest.
If Wisconsin offers a written agreement to convey the state forest land to Deli, Inc. in exchange for Deli conveying its land to the state, the federal reversionary interest is released. The Agriculture Secretary must provide recordable evidence in a quitclaim deed conveying any U.S. interest without consideration before the exchange deeds are recorded. The Secretary may correct legal descriptions in consultation with Wisconsin.
Who Benefits and How
Deli, Inc. benefits because the federal reversionary interest no longer blocks the exchange for the state forest parcel. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources benefits because the exchange can add Deli land to Black River State Forest. Black River State Forest users benefit if the exchange improves forest boundaries or public land configuration. Jackson County land records offices benefit from a recordable quitclaim deed. USDA land staff benefit from explicit authority to release the federal interest.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Agriculture Secretary must issue recordable quitclaim evidence without consideration and correct legal descriptions if needed. Wisconsin officials must approve and execute the exchange. Deli, Inc. must convey its land to the state to trigger the release. Public land advocates must assess the swap's effect on forest access and conservation. Existing easement and public water users remain subject to recorded restrictions.
Key Provisions
- Provides definitions for Deli land, state forest land, the map, and Wisconsin parties.
- Provides congressional findings that the state forest land is subject to a federal reversionary public-purpose interest.
- Directs release of the federal reversionary interest if Wisconsin and Deli, Inc. execute the land exchange.
- Requires USDA to provide a quitclaim deed without consideration before exchange deeds are recorded.
- Authorizes legal-description corrections in consultation with Wisconsin.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Releases the United States reversionary interest in about 31.83 acres of Black River State Forest land in Millston, Wisconsin, if Wisconsin conveys that land to Deli, Inc. in exchange for about 37.27 acres owned or optioned by Deli, Inc., which would be added to the State forest.
Key Policy Areas
Public Lands, Wisconsin, Agriculture, Forestry
Primary Purpose
Releases the United States reversionary interest in about 31.83 acres of Black River State Forest land in Millston, Wisconsin, if Wisconsin conveys that land to Deli, Inc. in exchange for about 37.27 acres owned or optioned by Deli, Inc., which would be added to the State forest.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Deli Inc.
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Black River State Forest users
- Jackson County land records offices
- USDA land staff
Identified Costs
- Agriculture Secretary
- Wisconsin officials
- Deli Inc.
- Public land advocates
- Existing easement users
Sponsors
Ron Johnson
R-WI | Primary Sponsor
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Mr. Boozman, without amendment
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. …
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman …
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported …
Mr. Johnson (for himself and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the following …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, …
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin officials
Positive-direction: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Negative-direction: Wisconsin officials
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "usda"
- → Department of Agriculture
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology