# Plain Language Summary: Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act

This bill allows the federal government to give up certain rights it holds over a small piece of land in Tennessee so that a church and the state can swap properties. Here's what's actually happening: The U.S. government currently has a claim on about 0.62 acres of forest land in Chester County that says if the state ever stops using it for public purposes, the land reverts back to federal control. The bill lets the Secretary of Agriculture release this federal claim, but only if Tennessee agrees to give the federal government a similar claim on a different 0.90-acre property owned by private citizens named Kirby and Leta Webb. Essentially, it's a trade—the feds give up their hold on one piece of land in exchange for getting a hold on another piece.

The practical reason for this swap is to allow the Bethel Baptist Church in Henderson, Tennessee to acquire the state forest land. Without this bill, the church couldn't get clear ownership because of the federal government's reversionary interest hanging over the property. By trading that interest for one on the Webb property instead, everyone gets what they need: the church can move forward with its plans, the state gets to facilitate the exchange, and the federal government maintains a similar level of protection on alternative land.

There's also a separate provision about mineral rights. The bill requires the federal government to figure out what minerals might be under the state forest land and how much they're worth within 90 days. Tennessee will then have to pay the federal government for these mineral rights—both the cost of doing the appraisal and the actual fair market value of any minerals like coal or oil that might be extracted. This ensures the public gets fair compensation for any valuable resources beneath the surface.

Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act

Green, Mark E.

Chester County Reversionary Interest Release Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release the reversionary interest of the United States in a 0.62-acre parcel of land in Chickasaw State Forest in Tennessee (the state forest land), if, as consideration for the release, Tennessee agrees to transfer to the United States a vested future interest in the 0.90-acre parcel known as the Webb property that is similar to the reversionary interest in order to facilitate a land exchange between Bethel Baptist Church in Henderson, Tennessee, and the state. As soon as the state has complied with specified requirements concerning the deed for the state forest land, USDA shall convey to the state the undivided mineral interest of the United States in such land. Additionally, USDA must determine the mineral character of the state forest land and the fair market value of the U.S. mineral interests&nbsp;no more than 90 days after enactment of this bill. Tennessee must pay the United States the fair market value of the mineral interests.