S277-119

Reported

A bill to release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced Jan 28, 2025

Summary

What This Bill Does

The bill addresses a surveyed 19-inch encroachment by Bethel Baptist Church onto state-owned land in Chickasaw State Forest. Because the United States retained a reversionary interest from a 1955 Department of Agriculture deed, the bill releases that reversionary interest without consideration and without appraisal, report, environmental, or similar review. It also directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the federal mineral interest in the 0.62-acre parcel to Tennessee by quitclaim deed, without warranty and without consideration, while Tennessee must pay federal administrative costs.

Who Benefits and How

The State of Tennessee benefits because the federal reversionary and mineral interests are cleared from the Chickasaw State Forest parcel. Bethel Baptist Church benefits because the release helps resolve the 19-inch encroachment issue identified by the state survey. Chester County land records offices benefit from clearer title and federal-interest documentation for the 0.62-acre parcel. Chickasaw State Forest managers benefit from reduced uncertainty over reversionary and mineral interests.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of Agriculture must release the reversionary interest and convey the federal mineral interest by quitclaim deed. Forest Service land staff must process the release and mineral conveyance without ordinary appraisal or environmental-review steps. The State of Tennessee must pay administrative costs incurred by the United States in carrying out the release. Federal taxpayers give up the reversionary and mineral interests without compensation other than administrative costs.

Key Provisions

  • Finds that Bethel Baptist Church encroaches approximately 19 inches onto state-owned Chickasaw State Forest land.
  • Releases the United States reversionary interest in the 0.62-acre state forest parcel without consideration.
  • Waives appraisal, report, environmental, and similar review requirements for the release.
  • Requires Tennessee to pay federal administrative costs for carrying out the release.
  • Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the federal mineral interest to Tennessee by quitclaim deed without warranty and without consideration.

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 and conveys federal mineral interests in a 0.62-acre Chickasaw State Forest parcel in Chester County, Tennessee, to resolve a Bethel Baptist Church encroachment, without consideration, appraisal, environmental review, or standard mineral-conveyance procedures, while requiring Tennessee to pay federal administrative costs.

Key Policy Areas

Public Lands, State Government

Primary Purpose

Releases the United States reversionary interest and conveys federal mineral interests in a 0.62-acre Chickasaw State Forest parcel in Chester County, Tennessee, to resolve a Bethel Baptist Church encroachment, without consideration, appraisal, environmental review, or standard mineral-conveyance procedures, while requiring Tennessee to pay federal administrative costs.

Policy Domains

Public Lands State Government

Bill provisions

Identified Gains
  • State of Tennessee
  • Bethel Baptist Church
  • Chester County land records offices
  • Chickasaw State Forest managers
Model: codex-gpt-5 | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is
State of Tennessee:
Bethel Baptist Church:
Chickasaw State Forest managers:
Chester County land records offices:
Identified Costs
  • Secretary of Agriculture
  • Forest Service land staff
  • State of Tennessee
  • Federal taxpayers
Model: codex-gpt-5 | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is
Federal taxpayers:
State of Tennessee:
Secretary of Agriculture:
Forest Service land staff:

Legislative Progress

Reported
Introduced Committee Passed
Oct 27, 2025

Reported by Mr. Boozman, without amendment

Oct 27, 2025

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. …

Oct 27, 2025

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman …

Oct 21, 2025

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported …

Jan 28, 2025

Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following …

Jan 28, 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, …

Jan 28, 2025

Introduced in Senate

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

State & Local Government
2 mentions across 1 clause
+2 positive

Chester County land records offices, State of Tennessee

Religious Organizations
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Bethel Baptist Church

Government
1 mention across 1 clause
-1 negative

Secretary of Agriculture

Taxpayers
1 mention across 1 clause
-1 negative

Taxpayers

1/1
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
Public Lands State Government
Actor Mappings
"state"
→ State of Tennessee
"secretary"
→ Secretary 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