H.R. 343 – Lake Fannin Conveyance Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:05 AM UTC

The Lake Fannin Conveyance Act directs the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to sell roughly 2,025 acres of National Forest System land in Fannin County, Texas, to the county. The county must submit an offer at fair market value, pay the appraisal and survey costs, and agree to keep the land for public recreation. The transfer is done by quit‑claim deed and must respect any existing rights on the property.

Key Provisions

If Fannin County offers to buy the land at the fair market price determined by an appraisal, the Secretary of Agriculture must convey the land to the county.
The fair market value appraisal must be completed within 180 days of the law’s enactment, following federal appraisal standards.
The county must pay the appraisal‑determined price plus all costs for the appraisal and a survey that defines the exact acreage.
The land will be transferred by quit‑claim deed, subject to any valid existing rights, and the Secretary can add other conditions to protect U.S. interests.
The county must manage the conveyed land for public recreational purposes.

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.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

February 7, 2019

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 8, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Agriculture Committee

January 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

February 7, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued January 8, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 343

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 8, 2019

Mr. Ratcliffe introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer certain National Forest System land in the State of Texas.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Lake Fannin Conveyance Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

County

The term County means Fannin County, Texas.

(2)

Map

The term map means the map entitled Lake Fannin Conveyance and dated November 21, 2013.

(3)

National Forest System land

The term National Forest System land means the approximately 2,025 acres of National Forest System land generally depicted on the map.

(4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.

3.

Land conveyance

(a)

In general

Subject to the terms and conditions described in subsection (b), if the County submits to the Secretary an offer to acquire the National Forest System land for the fair market value, as determined by the appraisal under subsection (c), the Secretary shall convey the National Forest System land to the County.

(b)

Terms and conditions

The conveyance under subsection (a) shall be—

(1)

subject to valid existing rights;

(2)

made by quitclaim deed; and

(3)

subject to any other terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.

(c)

Appraisal

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete an appraisal to determine the fair market value of the National Forest System land.

(2)

Standards

The appraisal under paragraph (1) shall be conducted in accordance with—

(A)

the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and

(B)

the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

(d)

Map

(1)

Availability of map

The map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate office of the Forest Service.

(2)

Correction of errors

The Secretary may correct minor errors in the map.

(e)

Consideration

As consideration for the conveyance under subsection (a), the County shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to the fair market value of the National Forest System land, as determined by the appraisal under subsection (c).

(f)

Survey

The exact acreage and legal description of the National Forest System land to be conveyed under subsection (a) shall be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Secretary and the County.

(g)

Use

As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (a), the County shall agree to manage the land conveyed under that subsection for public recreational purposes.

(h)

Costs of conveyance

As a condition of the conveyance under subsection (a), the County shall pay to the Secretary all costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of—

(1)

the appraisal under subsection (c); and

(2)

the survey under subsection (f).