US Federal Senate Bill SB1262

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/27/25
• Introduced: 4/2/25
• Refer: 4/2/25
• Report Pass: 10/21/25

Caption

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.

Summary

SB 1262 is a narrow land-exchange bill affecting a specific parcel in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to release the federal government’s reversionary interest in approximately 31.83 acres of state forest land, but only if Wisconsin first enters into a written agreement to convey that land to Deli, Inc. in exchange for approximately 37.27 acres of nearby Deli-owned land. The bill defines the parcels in detail and references a June 26, 2023 map to identify the affected property. The bill is structured to facilitate a land swap between the State of Wisconsin and Deli, Inc., a sphagnum moss production business. It also authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue recordable quitclaim deed documentation confirming the release, and to make any necessary corrections to the legal description of the state forest land. The release is tied to the exchange and is intended to occur before the exchange deeds are recorded.

Impact

The bill would affect federal property interests by extinguishing the United States’ reversionary interest under section 32(c) of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, which otherwise requires the land to remain in public use in perpetuity. If enacted and the stated condition is met, the Secretary of Agriculture would be required to provide a quitclaim deed releasing federal claims to the identified state forest parcels, clearing the way for the land exchange and subsequent incorporation of the Deli land into the Black River State Forest. The practical effect is limited to the specific parcels in Jackson County, Wisconsin, and does not broadly change general land-management law.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is noncontroversial and likely supported as a technical or local land-conveyance measure. It was introduced by Senator Johnson with Senator Baldwin, indicating bipartisan sponsorship, and it was reported by the Senate Agriculture Committee without amendment. There are no recorded votes or committee transcript snippets showing opposition, debate, or significant concern.

Contention

No notable contention is reflected in the provided materials. The bill’s only substantive condition is that Wisconsin must first agree in writing to exchange the state forest land for Deli, Inc.’s land, and the federal release is contingent on that exchange. Any potential issues would likely be limited to the accuracy of the legal descriptions, the land-exchange terms, or the environmental/public-use implications of transferring forest land, but none of those concerns are documented in the available record.