Wisconsin land swap quietly surrenders federal conservation safeguard
S. 1262 — 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. · Filed by Ron Johnson (R-WI) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Apr 2, 2025 · Reported out
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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 full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Deli, Inc. (sphagnum moss production company); Private landowners in Wisconsin (if the state forest land is later developed or sold)