Relating to the authority of the Texas Military Department to negotiate the release of a reversionary interest and certain other interests of the state in certain property in Palo Pinto County owned by the Palo Pinto County Livestock Association.
Summary
SB 2139 authorizes the Texas Military Department to evaluate and settle the state’s remaining property interests in a specific parcel of land in Palo Pinto County that is owned and used by the Palo Pinto County Livestock Association. The bill directs the department to determine the fair market value of the land as it existed when originally transferred by the state in 1953, as well as the present value of any state-retained interests in buildings, structures, or other improvements on the property. Using that valuation, the department must negotiate and close a transaction to release the state’s reversionary interest and any other retained interests.
The bill also requires the department to consider whether the state has already received sufficient value through the property’s long-term use as a fair, livestock show, and rodeo ground, and if not, to accept additional monetary consideration to make up the difference. If the department determines the state has already received full value, it must release the interests by instrument; otherwise, it may do so in exchange for payment. The act applies only to the specifically described tract in Palo Pinto County and takes effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote, which it did.
Impact
SB 2139 affects a narrow set of state property-law interests by giving the Texas Military Department explicit authority to resolve and release the state’s reversionary interest and any retained title interests in the identified Palo Pinto County property. It does not broadly change land-use law, but it does establish a process for valuation, negotiation, and conveyance of state interests tied to a 1953 transfer and any improvements on the land. The practical effect is to clear title or otherwise regularize ownership for the Palo Pinto County Livestock Association, while ensuring the state receives fair market value or equivalent consideration for its prior conveyance.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate unanimously and the House by a large margin, with only a small number of dissenting votes. The lack of committee testimony in the provided record and the strong floor votes suggest the measure was viewed as a targeted property-resolution bill rather than a policy dispute.
Contention
The main issue of potential contention is whether the state has already received adequate consideration for the original transfer through decades of use of the property as a public fair, livestock show, and rodeo ground, and whether any remaining value for state-retained interests should require additional payment. Another possible point of concern is the valuation method itself, since the bill allows an independent appraisal or another reasonable method if an appraisal is not feasible. However, the recorded votes indicate these issues did not generate significant opposition in the Legislature.
Identical
Relating to the authority of the Texas Military Department to negotiate the release of a reversionary interest and certain other interests of the state in certain property in Palo Pinto County owned by the Palo Pinto County Livestock Association.
Relating to the authority of the Texas Military Department to negotiate the release of a reversionary interest and certain other interests of the state in certain property in Palo Pinto County owned by the Palo Pinto County Livestock Association.
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to release a reversionary interest in certain land in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin, and for other purposes.
Resolve, Authorizing the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to Convey the Interests of the State in Certain Real Property in East Millinocket
Enacting the Kansas land and military installation protection act to prohibit foreign principals from countries of concern from acquiring any interest in certain real property in this state.