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S. 1073Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Escambia County Land Conveyance Act

Sponsored by Marco RubioSen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Introduced May 9, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:26 PM UTC

The Escambia County Land Conveyance Act lets Escambia County, Florida, sell or otherwise transfer land that used to be part of the Santa Rosa Island National Monument and was given to the county in 1947. The bill removes the federal restrictions that previously limited how the county could dispose of that land, while setting a few conditions for conservation, cost recovery, and the handling of land that lies within neighboring Santa Rosa County.

Key Provisions

  • Escambia County may convey any or all of the former monument land to any person or entity without the federal restrictions that were in the original 1946 deed.
  • Existing leaseholders keep their leaseholds; they are not forced to become owners.
  • Any portion of the land that falls inside Santa Rosa County must be transferred to Santa Rosa County within two years, at no price except for actual conveyance costs.
  • Santa Rosa County can impose its own lawful restrictions on the land it receives and may later reconvey it.
  • All proceeds from any sale, beyond the actual costs of conveyance, are treated as windfall profits and must be returned to the United States.
  • The county must permanently preserve areas currently dedicated to conservation, recreation, and public parking.
  • The land remains under the jurisdiction of whichever local government (Escambia or Santa Rosa County) it is located in.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-417.

National Parks Subcommittee

July 19, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 9, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 9, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 115-417.

National Parks Subcommittee

July 19, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 9, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1073

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 9, 2017

Mr. Rubio introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To authorize Escambia County, Florida, to convey certain property that was formerly part of Santa Rosa Island National Monument and that was conveyed to Escambia County subject to restrictions on use and reconveyance.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Escambia County Land Conveyance Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

County

The term County means Escambia County, Florida.

(2)

Non-federal land

The term non-Federal land means the former Santa Rosa Island National Monument land in the State that was conveyed by the United States to the County under the Act of July 30, 1946 (60 Stat. 712, chapter 699), and by deed dated January 15, 1947.

(3)

State

The term State means the State of Florida.

3.

Reconveyance of non-Federal land to Escambia County, Florida

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding the restrictions on conveyance in the Act of July 30, 1946 (60 Stat. 712, chapter 699), and the deed to the non-Federal land from the United States to the County dated January 15, 1947, and subject to subsections (c) through (g), the County may convey all right, title, and interest of the County in and to the non-Federal land or any portion of the non-Federal land, to any person or entity, without any restriction on conveyance or reconveyance imposed by the United States in that Act or deed.

(b)

Effect on leasehold interests

No person or entity holding a leasehold interest in the non-Federal land as of the date of enactment of this Act shall be required to involuntarily accept a fee interest to the non-Federal land in place of the leasehold interest in the non-Federal land.

(c)

Conveyance of land within Santa Rosa County, Florida

(1)

In general

As a condition of the authority granted to the County to convey the non-Federal land under subsection (a), all right, title, and interest of the County in and to any portion of the non-Federal land that is within the jurisdictional boundaries of Santa Rosa County, Florida, shall be conveyed by the County to Santa Rosa County, Florida, by the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2)

Requirements

A conveyance under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)

be absolute;

(B)

terminate—

(i)

any subjugation of Santa Rosa County, Florida, to the County; or

(ii)

any regulation of Santa Rosa County, Florida, by the County; and

(C)

be without consideration, except that the County may require Santa Rosa County, Florida, to pay the actual costs associated with the conveyance of the non-Federal land to Santa Rosa County, Florida.

(3)

Assumption of ownership; imposition of restrictions

On conveyance of the non-Federal land to Santa Rosa County, Florida, under paragraph (1), Santa Rosa County, Florida—

(A)

shall assume ownership of the non-Federal land free of the restrictions on the non-Federal land described in subsection (g); and

(B)

may establish any lawful restrictions on, or criteria for the reconveyance of, the non-Federal land to any leaseholder of the non-Federal land.

(4)

Reconveyance

Santa Rosa County, Florida, or any other person to whom Santa Rosa County, Florida, reconveys the non-Federal land may reconvey the non-Federal land or any portion of the non-Federal land conveyed to Santa Rosa County, Florida, under paragraph (1).

(d)

Incorporation or annexation

An owner or leaseholder of the non-Federal land conveyed under this section may pursue incorporation, annexation, or any other governmental status for the non-Federal land, if the owner or leaseholder complies with the legal conditions required for incorporation, annexation, or the other governmental status.

(e)

Jurisdiction

The non-Federal land shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the county or unit of local government in which the non-Federal land is located.

(f)

Proceeds

Any proceeds from the conveyance of the non-Federal land by the County or Santa Rosa County, Florida (other than amounts paid for the direct and incidental costs associated with the conveyance), under this section shall—

(1)

be considered to be windfall profits; and

(2)

revert to the United States.

(g)

Preservation

As a condition of the grant of the authority to convey the non-Federal land under subsection (a), the County shall preserve in perpetuity the areas of the non-Federal land that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, are dedicated for conservation, preservation, public recreation access, and public parking, in accordance with any resolutions of the Board of Commissioners of the County.

(h)

Determination of compliance

The County and Santa Rosa County, Florida—

(1)

except as provided in subsection (c)(1), shall not be subject to a deadline or requirement to make any conveyance or reconveyance of the non-Federal land authorized under this section; and

(2)

may establish terms for the conveyance or reconveyance of the non-Federal land authorized under this section, subject to this Act and applicable State law.