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 plan to let people buy certain land rights in Sacramento, California. The government will sell these rights to the current landowners who pay for everything needed, like land checks, at a fair price.
Summary AI
H. R. 8946, also known as the “Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act,” is a bill aimed at transferring certain rights of the United States in land located in Sacramento, California. This land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, covers about 8.43 acres. The bill allows the current landowners to purchase the reversionary interests at a fair market price, determined by an official appraisal process, including paying all associated costs. The proceeds from these sales will be deposited into the Federal Land Disposal Account and used according to existing federal land management laws.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled "Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act" (H.R. 8946) primarily seeks to transfer the United States government's remaining interest, or "reversionary interest," in a specific parcel of land located in Sacramento, California. This transaction pertains to an area under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, consisting of approximately 8.43 acres. To effectuate this conveyance, the act outlines that the Secretary of the Interior is to offer the land to eligible buyers at fair market value, with proceeds directed to a federal land fund. Buyers, who must be the current owners at the time of request, are tasked with all related costs, including appraisals and administrative fees.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several critical issues arise from this bill:
Definition and Restriction of 'Buyer': The term "buyer" is limited to the current owner of the record, which restricts eligibility to only those who hold ownership at the time of requesting the conveyance. This might unfavorably exclude parties who may gain ownership interest after the request period.
Resolution of Market Value Disputes: The bill lacks an explicit mechanism for addressing disagreements over the fair market value determined by the Secretary. This absence could lead to potential conflicts without a structured path for resolution.
Financial Barriers for Buyers: As the buyers are responsible for all transaction-related costs, including appraisals and surveys, this stipulation may pose significant financial hurdles, potentially limiting participation to those with considerable resources.
Specific Land Definition Issues: The designation of "covered land" may be overly specific, ignoring possible future shifts in land boundaries or administrative jurisdictions, which could complicate land ownership classifications or eligibility.
Favoritism Towards a Specific Company: The prominence given to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in maintaining existing rights-of-way may suggest preferential treatment, not accounting for other possible stakeholders connected to the land.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The act is set to streamline federal land holdings and generate revenue by selling the reversionary interest. However, this approach might also inadvertently create barriers for broader public access and potential equitable development in the region. Transparency in transactions and equitable access are crucial to maintaining public trust and interest.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impacts:
Current Landowners: Who stand to gain full control over the land and potentially develop it without federal strings attached, assuming they can afford associated costs.
Federal Funds: Proceeds from the sale help bolster the Federal Land Disposal Account, thus supporting future land management activities.
Negative Impacts:
Potential Buyers or Late Owners: Individuals or entities acquiring interest after the initial owner record date may find themselves unfairly excluded from the purchase opportunity.
Resource-restricted Buyers: High transaction-related costs might dissuade less financially equipped buyers from partaking in the conveyance process.
Other Interested Parties: The specific reference to the Southern Pacific Transportation Company may sideline other entities or individuals possessing interests in or claims on the land.
Overall, while the bill simplifies federal land management by selling off reversionary interests, it also presents challenges regarding transparency, fairness, and inclusivity, which could affect a range of stakeholders differently. The success of its implementation will depend largely on addressing these identified issues, ensuring all affected parties—including latecomers and less affluent potential buyers—are duly considered.
Issues
The constraint in Section 2 regarding the definition of 'buyer' might impose limitations on potential legitimate buyers who have different ownership arrangements or have acquired partial ownership post-request time, potentially excluding interested parties unjustly.
Section 2 does not outline any mechanism for resolving disputes regarding the 'fair market value' as determined by the Secretary, which is crucial for ensuring transparency and fairness in the conveyance process.
In Section 2, the requirement for the buyer to pay all costs related to the conveyance, including surveys, appraisals, and other administrative costs, could create financial barriers, limiting participation to those who can afford these expenses.
The 'covered land' definition in Section 2 might be too restrictive, potentially failing to account for future geographical or administrative changes, which could lead to issues with land designation or changes in ownership eligibility.
Section 3 refers specifically to the 'Southern Pacific Transportation Company', which might suggest favoritism towards a specific organization and overlooks other stakeholders who might have interests in the covered land.
Section 2's language, requiring the Secretary to 'offer to the buyer the applicable reversionary interest', lacks clarity regarding the process and structure of the offer, which might lead to misunderstandings and implementation challenges.
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.