To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes.
Summary
HB3187 requires the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to convey a specific parcel of federal Forest Service land in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County, Arkansas. The parcel is identified as approximately 0.81 acres at 1069 Fourche Avenue and must be transferred only if the county submits a written request within 180 days of enactment. The conveyance is to be made by quitclaim deed, without consideration, and subject to valid existing rights and any other conditions the Secretary deems necessary to protect federal interests.
The bill also requires Perry County to pay the costs associated with the transfer, including surveying, environmental review, and any historic-preservation compliance. It expressly relieves the federal government from providing any covenant or warranty under CERCLA for the property. In addition, the land must be used only for public purposes, including education and youth development, and the Secretary may reclaim the property if it is no longer used consistently with that requirement.
Impact
The bill would remove a small parcel of Forest Service property from federal ownership and place it under county control, while preserving federal protections through a reversion clause and conditions on use. It affects federal land management authority under the Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service, and it imposes transfer-related responsibilities on Perry County, including survey, environmental, and historic-preservation costs. The measure does not broadly change state law, but it would alter the ownership and permitted use of the specific Arkansas parcel and may support local public facility or community-use development.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong bipartisan support and little opposition: the House passed the bill on suspension with 386 yeas and 0 nays. No committee transcripts are available, but the unanimous vote indicates the measure was viewed as a narrow, noncontroversial local land conveyance. The bill’s placement on the Senate calendar after receipt also suggests routine consideration rather than significant dispute.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the record. The main policy points are the transfer of federal land without payment, the county’s obligation to cover all transaction and compliance costs, and the federal government’s refusal to provide environmental warranties. The reversion provision and public-purpose restriction appear designed to address concerns about misuse or loss of public benefit, while the county’s ability to request the conveyance within the statutory deadline is the key procedural condition.
Same As
An original bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes.
An original bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes.
A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi, and for other purposes.
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.
A bill 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.
Directing The Director Of The Office Of State Planning Coordination, The Director Of The Office Of Management And Budget, The Secretary Of Finance, The Controller General, The Secretary Of Education, And The Secretary Of The Department Of Technology And Information To Develop Recommendations For The Statewide Uniform Reassessment Of Real Property And To Provide A Report Of The Recommendations To The Governor And The General Assembly.