H.R. 1563House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act

Introduced March 6, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 2:43 AM UTC

The Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act directs the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to give up the federal government's reversionary interest in a small parcel of state forest land in Henderson, Tennessee. The release is meant to enable a land swap between the Bethel Baptist Church and the State of Tennessee, and it also requires the federal government to transfer its mineral rights in that parcel to the state once the state pays the determined value.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Agriculture must release the United States' reversionary interest in about 0.62 acres of state forest land if Tennessee transfers a future interest in a nearby 0.90‑acre Webb property back to the United States.
  • The reversionary interest being released is the one that obligates the land to be used for public purposes, as set out in a deed dated August 12, 1955.
  • After the state fulfills the land‑exchange condition, the Secretary must convey the undivided federal mineral rights in the forest land to the state.
  • The state must pay any administrative costs incurred by the federal government and the fair market value of those mineral rights, as determined within 90 days of the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

March 27, 2019

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 6, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

March 6, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

March 27, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Introduced in HouseIssued March 6, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1563

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 6, 2019

Mr. Green of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to release certain reversionary interests of the United States in and to a parcel of land located in Henderson, Tennessee.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(2)

State

The term State means the State of Tennessee.

(3)

State forest land

The term State forest land means the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land in Chickasaw State Forest that is identified as State Forest Land on the map prepared by the Forest Service entitled State Forest Land Detail Map and dated October 9, 2018.

(4)

Webb property

The term Webb property means the approximately 0.90-acre parcel of land owned by Kirby and Leta Webb identified as Webb Property Lot 1 on the map prepared by the Tennessee Division of Forestry entitled Webb Property Detail Map and dated October 9, 2018.

3.

Release of reversionary interest

(a)

Release

To facilitate an exchange of land between the Bethel Baptist Church in Henderson, Tennessee, and the State, the Secretary shall release the reversionary interest of the United States in and to the State forest land described in subsection (b) if, as consideration for the release, the State agrees to transfer to the United States a vested future interest in and to the Webb property that is similar to the reversionary interest described in subsection (b).

(b)

Description of reversionary interest

The reversionary interest referred to in subsection (a) is the reversionary interest of the United States in and to the State forest land that—

(1)

requires that the State forest land be used for public purposes; and

(2)

is contained in a deed—

(A)

granting from the United States to the State the State forest land;

(B)

dated August 12, 1955; and

(C)

registered on page 588 of book 48 of the record of deeds for Chester County, Tennessee.

4.

Sale of mineral rights

(a)

In general

Subject to any valid existing rights of third parties, as soon as practicable after the date on which the Secretary determines that the State has complied with the requirements of subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall convey to the State the undivided mineral interests of the United States in and to the State forest land.

(b)

Terms of conveyance

(1)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall determine—

(A)

the mineral character of the State forest land; and

(B)

the fair market value of the mineral interests referred to in subsection (a).

(2)

Payment of costs

As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (a), the State shall pay to the United States—

(A)

any administrative costs incurred by the United States in conveying to the State the mineral interests referred to in subsection (a), including the costs incurred by the Secretary in making the determinations required under paragraph (1); and

(B)

an amount equal to the fair market value of the mineral interests referred to in subsection (a), as determined under paragraph (1)(B).