Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 952
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-04: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act (H.R. 952) aims to transfer the United States' reversionary interest—a conditional right that allows the government to reclaim land if it is no longer used for its original purpose—in approximately 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California, to the current private owners. This would give the owners full, unrestricted title to the land.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Covered land: About 8.43 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Sacramento, as shown on a specific map from November 2022. This land's reversionary interest stems from an 1862 law granting land for railroad purposes.
- Buyer: The current record owner of any parcels within the covered land, who can only request conveyance for parcels they own.
- Reversionary interest: All U.S. government rights to reclaim the land.
- Secretary: The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the BLM.
- Conveyance Process:
- Upon receiving a request from the buyer, the Secretary must offer the reversionary interest within two years and complete the conveyance once the buyer pays the appraised fair market value.
- The conveyance is subject to any existing legal rights (e.g., easements) and must be for no less than fair market value.
- Valuation and Costs:
- Fair market value is determined using the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and a professional appraisal following uniform federal standards for land acquisitions.
- The buyer must cover all related costs, including surveys, appraisals, and administrative fees, in addition to the purchase price.
- Use of Proceeds:
- Sale proceeds go into the Federal Land Disposal Account, established under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, and can be used to acquire other environmentally important lands or interests.
- Limitations (Statutory Construction):
- The Act does not reduce an existing right-of-way (a legal permission to use the land) to less than 50 feet on each side of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company's main tracks as they existed on the date of enactment.
- It does not recognize or confirm any land claims based on adverse possession (long-term unauthorized use), prescription (similar to adverse possession through continuous use), or abandonment unless previously confirmed by the railroad company before enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This Act modifies the implications of the 1862 Act (which granted land to railroads with reversionary interests if the land ceased railroad use) by allowing the release of the U.S. government's reversionary interest for this specific parcel.
- It introduces a streamlined process for private owners to purchase and clear these historical federal interests, which were not previously available under general land management laws, without altering broader federal land policies.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The BLM would relinquish oversight of the reversionary interest, potentially simplifying land records, but gain funds for acquiring other federal lands under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act. This could reduce administrative burdens related to monitoring historical grants.
- On Citizens: Current landowners in Sacramento gain the opportunity to secure unencumbered property titles, which could facilitate development, sales, or financing of the parcels without federal reversion risks. It primarily benefits a small number of private owners.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic land transfer involving U.S. federal interests.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Responsible for executing the conveyance and managing proceeds.
- Private Landowners (Buyers): Owners of the covered land parcels, who can request and purchase the reversionary interest to clear title.
- Southern Pacific Transportation Company (or Successors, e.g., Union Pacific): Protected by provisions preserving their existing right-of-way for railroad tracks.
- Local Sacramento Community: Indirectly affected through potential changes in land use or development on the parcels.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces property rights by allowing private acquisition of federal interests at fair market value, while safeguarding existing rights like easements. It explicitly avoids endorsing informal claims (e.g., adverse possession), maintaining federal standards for title validation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Fifth Amendment's protections for property takings, as the conveyance occurs at fair market value with due process (appraisals and timelines), rather than a unilateral government seizure.
- Political: Represents a targeted resolution for historical railroad land grants, common in Western U.S. states like California, potentially setting a precedent for similar small-scale releases without broader federal land policy shifts. It passed the House in 2025 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, indicating bipartisan interest in local property issues.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-04: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2026-02-12: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
- 2025-05-14: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-05-13: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-05-13: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1982)
- 2025-05-13: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1982)
- 2025-05-13: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 952.
- 2025-05-13: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1982-1983)
- 2025-05-13: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2025-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (6 pages)
- Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act — issued 2025-02-04 — PDF (4 pages)
- Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act — issued 2025-05-14 — PDF (5 pages)