Wisconsin land swap quietly surrenders federal conservation safeguard

What it does

This bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release a federal reversionary interest (a claim that the land revert to federal ownership if not used for public purposes) in approximately 31.83 acres of state forest land in Wisconsin's Black River State Forest. In exchange, a sphagnum moss production company called Deli, Inc. will convey approximately 37.27 acres of private land to the state, which will then be added to the state forest. The federal government gives up its claim to the state forest land; Deli, Inc. gains private ownership of the state forest parcel; Wisconsin gains net acreage for its state forest.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is a conditional land swap between a private moss-production company and Wisconsin state government, contingent on federal release of a reversionary interest. This is a property transaction, not a public-safety, appropriations, or regulatory measure.

What the text implies

• The bill extinguishes a federal reversionary interest without explicitly requiring the state to maintain the land for public purposes in perpetuity—the original Bankhead-Jones Act mandate. Future Wisconsin legislatures could theoretically reclassify or privatize the released acreage without federal recourse.
• Deli, Inc. gains private ownership of 31.83 acres of state forest land (currently public) in exchange for contributing 37.27 acres of private land. The company's net position improves if the state forest parcel has higher commercial or development value than the private parcels being conveyed.
• The bill grants the Secretary of Agriculture unilateral authority to make 'necessary corrections' to legal descriptions of the state forest land, potentially altering the acreage or boundaries without further congressional approval.
• No explicit environmental impact assessment, public comment period, or tribal consultation requirement is stated in the bill, despite the transaction affecting state forest land that may have ecological or cultural significance.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Citizens gain a net increase in state forest acreage (37.27 acres added vs. 31.83 acres released), preserving public forest access and conservation value. However, the bill permanently surrenders federal oversight of land originally held under a public-purpose mandate, and the reversionary interest—a safeguard ensuring perpetual public use—is extinguished without explicit statutory replacement, creating a risk that future state decisions could reduce public access or conservation protections.

Who stands to gain

• Deli, Inc. (sphagnum moss production company)
• Private landowners in Wisconsin (if the state forest land is later developed or sold)

Named in the bill

Deli, Inc., U.S. Department of Agriculture (Secretary of Agriculture), State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, Governor of Wisconsin, Black River State Forest, Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (Section 32)

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• Apr 2, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Apr 2, 2025 — Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry”
• Oct 21, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.