Overview
Title
An Act To convey the reversionary interest of the United States in certain land in Sacramento, California.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 8946 is a bill that would let certain people buy back the U.S. government's rights to a piece of land in Sacramento if they pay a fair price, and the money from the sale will be used for other land projects.
Summary AI
H.R. 8946 is a bill aimed at transferring the United States government's reversionary interest in a piece of land in Sacramento, California, to the current landowners. It defines important terms like "covered land," "buyer," and "reversionary interest." The bill requires that the transfer be made at fair market value and outlines how the fair market value must be determined according to federal standards. Additionally, it specifies that the costs related to the land transfer will be borne by the buyer and stipulates that proceeds from the sale will be used in accordance with the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill, titled the “Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act,” is designed to facilitate the transfer of certain land interests from the United States to private parties. It specifically pertains to a piece of property in Sacramento, California, spanning approximately 8.43 acres. The legislation empowers the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, to convey any reversionary interests—meaning future ownership interests retained by the government when it first transferred title to the land—to the current landowners upon request. The bill establishes a process for determining the fair market value of these interests, which buyers must pay, alongside any additional costs related to transactions, such as appraisals and surveys.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the main issues with the bill is the restriction in the definition of the term "buyer." This term is narrowly defined as the "owner of record" at the time of the request, potentially excluding other legitimate stakeholders or owners who may wish to acquire the reversionary interest but do not meet this specific criterion. Additionally, the requirement for buyers to shoulder all conveyance-related costs may act as a financial barrier, especially for smaller entities or individuals with limited means.
Furthermore, the bill does not provide clear guidance for resolving disputes over the determined fair market value of the land, which could lead to disagreements without a specified resolution process. Another issue lies in the language used in Section 3, which might be biased towards the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, potentially neglecting the interests of other stakeholders.
Impact on the Public
The bill could potentially streamline the process by which private landowners in Sacramento solidify their property rights, enhancing the ability to utilize, develop, or transfer their land as they see fit. This process could encourage economic activity or investments in the area by providing clearer land ownership titles. However, the financial burdens imposed by the requirement for buyers to cover all associated costs may deter some prospective parties, potentially limiting the realization of these potential economic benefits.
Impact on Stakeholders
For private landowners in Sacramento, this legislation provides a formal pathway to clear any outstanding government ownership claims on their property, which can significantly increase their property's value. However, the financial implications may impact smaller stakeholders more acutely than larger, financially robust entities. It is essential to consider that by only allowing "owners of record" at a specific request time to purchase these reversionary interests, the bill might impose restrictions on individuals or families who are undergoing ownership transitions.
Railroad companies, specifically the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, could see a positive impact from the affirmation of their rights of way as outlined in the bill. On the other hand, other entities that might have legitimate historical claims or interests, potentially not addressed in the bill, could face challenges due to possible biases inherent in the legislation.
Overall, while the bill appears to make pragmatic steps towards resolving land ownership issues, the limitations and requirements could present challenges that may sour its intended impact, especially for smaller landholders and potential competitors to the recognized interested parties.
Issues
The limitation in Section 2, whereby the term 'buyer' is defined to only allow the 'owner of record' at the time of request to purchase the reversionary interest, could unfairly exclude potential legitimate buyers who have different ownership arrangements or whose ownership status changes shortly before the request is made.
Section 2 outlines that the buyer must pay all costs related to the conveyance, including surveys and appraisals. This requirement could impose a significant financial burden on buyers, which may serve as a barrier to legitimate purchases, particularly affecting smaller entities or individuals with limited resources.
Section 2 lacks an explicit mechanism for resolving disputes or appeals regarding the 'fair market value' determined by the Secretary. This absence could lead to disagreements without a clear path to resolution, potentially creating legal and financial conflicts.
The title of Section 1, 'Short title,' does not provide detailed information about the content or purpose of the section, which could lead to a lack of transparency or misinterpretation of the bill's intent.
In Section 3, the term 'Southern Pacific Transportation Company' appears to favor a specific organization without mention of other potentially interested entities, raising concerns about partiality or neglect of other stakeholders.
Section 3 of the Act uses complex legal terms such as 'adverse possession, prescription, or abandonment,' which may not be easily understandable to the general public without a legal background, potentially leading to confusion or misinterpretation.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides the short title for the act, which can be referred to as the “Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act.”
2. Conveyance of United States interest in certain land Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, the United States plans to sell its interest in a specific piece of land in Sacramento, California. The process involves an appraisal to determine the land's fair market value, and the buyer is responsible for covering all costs associated with the sale. The proceeds from the sale will go into a federal account dedicated to land transactions.
3. Statutory construction Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Section 3 of this Act ensures that the right-of-way related to the land mentioned in section 2 cannot be reduced to less than 50 feet on each side of the train tracks established by the Southern Pacific Transportation Company as of the Act's enactment date. It also states that any claims to this land based on adverse possession, prescription, or abandonment are not valid unless they were confirmed by a prior conveyance from the Southern Pacific Transportation Company before the Act was enacted.