Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act
H.R. 952, the Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act, would allow the United States to sell its reversionary interest in about 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California, to the owner of record of the parcels within that land at the time a buyer submits a request. The sale would occur only after the Secretary of the Interior (via the Bureau of Land Management) offers the reversionary interest to the requesting buyer and the buyer pays the appraised fair market value (FMV). Costs of the conveyance (surveys, appraisals, and related admin costs) would be borne by the buyer, and proceeds from the sale would go to a federal land disposal fund for use under existing law. The bill preserves existing rights and requires the FMV appraisal to follow standard federal appraisal rules. It also preserves a minimum 50-foot right-of-way width for the railroad corridor and clarifies that the act does not validate any adverse possession claims not conveyed by the railroad company before enactment. In short, the bill formalizes a process for private landowners who own parcels within the targeted area to acquire the U.S. reversionary interest, potentially enabling greater ownership and control over that land, while maintaining railroad-related rights and existing legal protections.
Key Points
- 1Targeted area and interest: The act covers approximately 8.43 acres in Sacramento under BLM jurisdiction, defined by a map and title referring to releases from reversionary interests, including interests under the 1862 railroad land grant. The “reversionary interest” is the United States’ right to re-acquire the land if certain conditions related to federal land grants/railroad rights revert.
- 2Eligibility and request: A “buyer” is the owner of record of any parcels within the covered land at the time of the request. A buyer can request and purchase the U.S. reversionary interest only for parcels where the owner of record is the owner at the time of the request.
- 3Timeline for action: After the Secretary (through the BLM) receives a buyer’s request, the Secretary must offer the applicable reversionary interest to the buyer within two years and convey the lands upon payment of the appraised value.
- 4Price and costs: Conveyance must be at not less than fair market value, determined under FLPMA and based on an appraisal conducted under federal standards. The buyer pays all costs related to the conveyance (surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs).
- 5Proceeds and use: Money from the sale goes to the Federal Land Disposal Account and is used according to the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act.
- 6Protections and limitations: The conveyance is subject to valid existing rights. Statutory language preserves a 50-foot minimum right-of-way width on each side of the centerline of the railroad tracks (as maintained by Southern Pacific Transportation Company on enactment date) and does not validate any adverse possession or similar claims not confirmed by conveyance from the railroad company.