Bill > HR775

This bill introduces a comprehensive framework to prevent an increase in federal land ownership across the United States by requiring that the total acreage of federal lands acquired in a given fiscal year cannot exceed the amount of federal lands disposed of in the same state. Specifically, the bill mandates that federal agencies like the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture must conduct an annual inventory of their land holdings, categorizing them by type of interest (such as fee ownership, easements, or mineral rights). If a federal agency acquires more land in a state than it disposes of in a fiscal year, the President must convey an equivalent amount of federal land back to that state within 24 months. The bill provides detailed definitions of what constitutes "federal land," including leased or conserved lands, while excluding certain types of lands like those held in trust for Native American tribes or lands acquired through foreclosure. Each year by September 30, the relevant Secretary must submit a report to the President and Congress detailing the changes in federal land ownership. The goal is to create a strict accounting mechanism that prevents the federal government from continuously expanding its land holdings without disposing of an equivalent amount of land.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/775/all-info