{"id":"6271a982-e88e-412d-85b2-7124e2b84894","feedVisibility":"normal","congress":119,"billType":"s","billNumber":277,"title":"A bill to release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.","displayTitle":"A bill to release a Federal reversionary interest and convey mineral interests in Chester County, Tennessee, and for other purposes.","abstract":"This bill provides for the transfer of the Forest Service's interest in the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land within the Chickasaw State Forest to the state of Tennessee in order to resolve the encroachment of Bethel Baptist Church on that parcel. Both the parcel and the church are located in Chester County, Tennessee. On August 12, 1955, the Forest Service conveyed the parcel to the state but retained a reversionary interest in the land that takes effect if the state forest land ceases to be used for public purposes. The bill directs the Forest Service to release the reversionary interest to the state. Additionally, the Forest Service must convey to the state its mineral interest in the parcel. The conveyance must be done by quitclaim deed and without warranty or consideration (such as payment). As a condition of the release and the conveyance, the state must pay for any administrative costs incurred by the Forest Service in carrying out the release and conveyance. The Forest Service must release the reversionary interest and convey the parcel without undertaking any appraisal, environmental review, or other report.","displaySummary":"<p><strong>YVN Summary</strong></p>\n\n<p>Almost no one would notice this change. It fixes a property line problem on less than an acre of forest in Chester County, Tennessee.\n\nA state survey found that Bethel Baptist Church sits about 19 inches over the line, on state forest land. The federal government gave that land to Tennessee in 1955. The deed said the land must stay in public use, or it returns to federal hands. This bill would end that requirement on the 0.62-acre parcel. It would also hand Tennessee the mineral rights under the land, free of charge. Tennessee would pay the federal paperwork costs. No appraisal, mineral study, or environmental review would happen first.</p>","status":"FLOOR_CONSIDERATION","topics":["GOVERNMENT_OPERATIONS","ENVIRONMENT","AGRICULTURE"],"introducedAt":"2025-01-28T00:00:00+00:00","latestActionAt":"2025-10-27T00:00:00+00:00","congressGovUrl":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/277","accountabilityFlags":{"environment":["↓ Environmental review before the transfers — none required","↓ Public use requirement on the parcel — set in 1955"],"transparency_accountability":["↓ Value check on the parcel's minerals — none before transfer"]},"tldr":"A church sits 19 inches onto state forest land — the federal government would give up its claims there.","summaryStandard":"v2","flagExplainers":{"environment":["Before land like this changes hands, federal law normally calls for an environmental review. The bill states that no such review is needed for this transfer.","The 1955 deed let the land return to federal hands if Tennessee stopped using it for public purposes. Giving up that right means the state keeps the parcel no matter how it is used later."],"transparency_accountability":["The bill bars any appraisal or study of the minerals under the parcel. No public record would show the worth of what the government gave up."]},"flagValence":{"environment":["contested","contested"],"transparency_accountability":["bad"]},"needsResummary":false,"displaySummaryHtml":null,"rawStatusText":"Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 207.","chamber":"SENATE","policyArea":"Public Lands and Natural Resources","legislativeSubjects":["Forests, forestry, trees","Land transfers","Tennessee"],"lawStatus":null,"lawNumber":null,"latestActionText":"Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 207.","latestTextVersion":"Reported to Senate","textVersionUsed":null,"dateAdded":"2026-07-22T00:00:00+00:00","summarizedAt":"2026-08-20T02:13:01+00:00","recordId":"6271a982-e88e-412d-85b2-7124e2b84894","feedIdentityKey":"119/s/277","websiteBillId":"S-277","yourvoiceSummary":"Almost no one would notice this change. It fixes a property line problem on less than an acre of forest in Chester County, Tennessee.\n\nA state survey found that Bethel Baptist Church sits about 19 inches over the line, on state forest land. The federal government gave that land to Tennessee in 1955. The deed said the land must stay in public use, or it returns to federal hands. This bill would end that requirement on the 0.62-acre parcel. It would also hand Tennessee the mineral rights under the land, free of charge. Tennessee would pay the federal paperwork costs. No appraisal, mineral study, or environmental review would happen first.","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T03:37:10.69414+00:00"}