[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 775 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 775
To ensure that there is no net gain in Federal land ownership in any
fiscal year, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 28, 2025
Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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A BILL
To ensure that there is no net gain in Federal land ownership in any
fiscal year, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Net Gain in Federal Lands Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. NO NET GAIN IN CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND OWNERSHIP.
(a) No Net Gain.--
(1) In general.--The number of acres of land, water, and
interests therein acquired by the United States and put under
the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the
Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture in a State during a
fiscal year may not exceed the number of acres of Federal land
under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary of the
Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture disposed of in that
State during that fiscal year.
(2) Application.--In applying paragraph (1)--
(A) only the disposal of fee title to lands or
waters may be counted against acquisition of fee title
to lands or waters; and
(B) only disposal of interests in lands or waters
of less than fee may be counted against acquisition of
comparable interests in lands or waters of less than
fee.
(b) Annual Inventory; Determination, Report.--
(1) Inventory.--The Secretary shall complete an annual
inventory of the total number of acres of Federal land,
categorized according to the type of interest (such as fee,
easement, mineral interest, etc.), under the administrative
jurisdiction of each agency of the Department of the Interior
or the Department of Agriculture, as the case may be--
(A) in each State; and
(B) in the aggregate.
(2) Determination.--Based on the inventory required by
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make an annual
determination of the increase or decrease in the previous
fiscal year of the total number of acres of Federal land,
categorized according to the type of interest (such as fee,
easement, mineral interest), under the administrative
jurisdiction of--
(A) each agency of the Department of the Interior
or the Department of Agriculture, as the case may be;
and
(B) the Department of the Interior, in total, and
the Department of Agriculture, in total, as the case
may be.
(3) Report.--Not later than September 30 of each year, the
Secretary shall submit to the President and Congress a report
containing the inventory and determination required under this
subsection.
(c) Compliance Land Disposal.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 24 months after the
Secretary determines under subsection (b) that the Federal
Government acquired more new Federal land under the
administrative jurisdiction of that Secretary in a State than
it disposed of in that State during a fiscal year, the
President shall convey to that State sufficient Federal land
under the administrative jurisdiction of that Secretary to
comply with subsection (a) for that fiscal year.
(2) No major federal action.--A conveyance under paragraph
(1) shall not be considered a major Federal action for the
purposes of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).
(d) Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act, the following
definitions apply:
(1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land''--
(A) means Federal lands, waters, and interests
therein, including lands held in trust by the Federal
Government (except as provided in subparagraph (C));
(B) includes non-Federal land that is--
(i) leased by the Federal Government;
(ii) held as a conservation easement by the
Federal Government; or
(iii) requires oversight by, involvement
in, or other authority is exercised by the
Federal Government to an extent that prohibits
use of the non-Federal land that is not
specifically authorized by the Federal
Government; and
(C) does not include land, water, and interests
therein--
(i) held by an Indian Tribe or individual
Indian subject to a restriction by the Federal
Government against alienation;
(ii) acquired pursuant to a foreclosure
under title 18, United States Code;
(iii) acquired by any department, agency,
or independent establishment in its capacity as
a receiver, conserver, or liquidating agent
which is held by that department, agency, or
independent establishment in such capacity
pending disposal;
(iv) that has reverted to the Federal
Government pursuant to a reversionary clause in
a deed or statute;
(v) subject to seizure, levy, or lien under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
(vi) securing a debt owed to the United
States.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture with regard to the
Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of
that Secretary; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior with regard to
Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of
that Secretary.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means the several States and
the District of Columbia.
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