Overview
Title
To convey the reversionary interest of the United States in certain land in Sacramento, California.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 8946 is about selling a piece of land in Sacramento, California, from the U.S. government to the person who owns it now, but only if that person pays for all the extra work needed, like measuring the land and checking its value.
Summary AI
H.R. 8946, known as the “Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act,” proposes a plan for transferring the United States' reversionary interest in approximately 8.43 acres of land in Sacramento, California, to the current landowner. The land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, can be sold to the owner at its fair market value, as determined through a professional appraisal process. The landowner is responsible for covering all associated costs, such as surveys and administrative expenses. Proceeds from the sale will be designated to a federal account for land transactions, with certain rights and historical claims remaining unaffected by the conveyance.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill, titled the "Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act," aims to transfer a specific reversionary interest held by the United States in certain lands located in Sacramento, California. Specifically, this involves approximately 8.43 acres of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The act allows for the sale of this interest, with the proceeds being directed into a federal account dedicated to land transactions. The Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, is tasked with managing this conveyance process, which includes determining the fair market value of the land.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the primary issues identified in the bill is the potentially restrictive definition of "covered land." The specificity of the land's description could limit the bill's adaptability to future changes, such as geographic alterations or administrative boundary changes.
Additionally, the term "buyer" is defined in a potentially exclusive manner. It limits the right to purchase the reversionary interest to the current owner of record, potentially excluding other legitimate buyers who could have reasonable interest or capability to purchase the interest.
The financial burden placed on buyers, requiring them to cover all related costs like surveys and appraisals, could discourage potential purchasers, particularly those from smaller entities or individuals with limited financial resources.
Moreover, the bill does not provide mechanisms for disputing or appealing the fair market value set by the Secretary, which could lead to conflicts if there is disagreement over this assessment.
In Section 3, reference to the "Southern Pacific Transportation Company" may inadvertently favor a specific entity without considering other stakeholders. Additionally, the use of complex legal terminology may not be easily understandable to the general public, potentially leading to misunderstandings.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The public might see this bill as a standard government transaction pertaining to land management. However, the restrictive and exclusive nature of the buyer definition and financial obligations for potential buyers could inadvertently limit public participation in the process. This may impact the fairness and openness of the transaction, potentially reducing trust in such government processes.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impacts: - Government Operations: The conveyance of land interest and its proceeds being channeled into federal accounts can aid in efficient land management and allocation of federal resources for other purposes.
Negative Impacts: - Potential Buyers: The restriction to current owners might exclude interested parties who could manage or use the land effectively. Additionally, the financial obligations attached to purchasing the reversionary interest may present barriers. - General Public and Smaller Stakeholders: Due to the potential imposition of high costs and exclusive buying rights, smaller stakeholders or those with moderate financial means might be discouraged from participating in the acquisition, thereby limiting the pool of interested and qualified buyers.
The bill thus presents an intricate mix of procedural efficiency and potential barriers for broader stakeholder engagement, raising questions about inclusivity and transparency in land transactions involving public interest.
Issues
The definition of 'covered land' in Section 2 may be too restrictive by specifying very particular details, potentially limiting future flexibility if there are changes in geography or administrative boundaries.
In Section 2, the term 'buyer' limits the acquisition of the reversionary interest to the current owner of record at the request time. This rule could exclude potential legitimate buyers under different ownership arrangements, potentially impacting transactions and interested stakeholders.
Section 2 places all costs related to conveyance, such as surveys and appraisals, upon the buyer. This could create significant financial barriers, disincentivizing potential legitimate purchases and affecting smaller entities or individuals financially.
Lack of dispute or appeal mechanisms regarding the fair market value as determined by the Secretary in Section 2 could lead to disagreements without a clear resolution process, potentially causing legal conflicts for stakeholders.
The term 'Southern Pacific Transportation Company' in Section 3 could implicitly favor a specific organization, potentially marginalizing other stakeholders who might have interests in the land, raising concerns of fairness and equity.
Complex legal terms such as 'adverse possession, prescription, or abandonment' in Section 3 might not be easily understandable to general audiences without legal expertise, creating potential for misunderstanding the legal implications.
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.