HR 1276 · 119th Congress

To remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky.

land transfersKentuckypublic landsdeed restrictions
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Last action 2026-03-04

Sponsored by Rep. Comer, James [R-KY-1] (R) — KY

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The bill would direct the Interior Department to remove deed restrictions from a 3.62-acre parcel in Paducah, Kentucky, that the federal government previously conveyed to the city, while keeping conditions on future transfers and land use.

What this bill would do

What it would do

The bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to execute the paperwork needed to remove all deed restrictions—including easements, reservations, and covenants—from a roughly 3.62-acre parcel at 2956 Park Avenue on the former Paducah Memorial Army Reserve Center. The restrictions stem from a 2012 quitclaim deed conveying the land from the federal government to the City of Paducah, Kentucky.

In lifting the restrictions, the Secretary would still have to impose new conditions: the city could not sell or transfer the parcel to anyone other than the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah, that club would have to offer the land back to the Secretary at no cost before selling it to anyone else, and any future use or development would have to remain compatible with public use or recreation.

Key provisions

  1. 1Would require the Secretary of the Interior to execute instruments removing all deed restrictions from the specified Paducah parcelSec. 1(a)
  2. 2Identifies the deed restrictions to be removed as those from the April 27, 2012 quitclaim deed to the City of PaducahSec. 1(b)
  3. 3Would require a reservation barring the city from transferring the land except to the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of PaducahSec. 1(c)(1)
  4. 4Would require the Boys & Girls Club to offer the parcel back to the Secretary at no cost before any future saleSec. 1(c)(2)
  5. 5Would require any new use or development of the parcel to remain compatible with public use or recreation purposesSec. 1(c)(3)

Who would be affected

The City of Paducah, Kentucky, which currently holds the restricted parcel; the Department of the Interior, which must process the deed change; and the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah, which is named as the only permitted future recipient of the land.

Why it matters

Removing the restrictions would give Paducah more flexibility to use or redevelop the parcel, while the added conditions ensure the land stays tied to public or recreational use and gives the federal government a right of first refusal if the Boys & Girls Club ever gives it up.

What would change

Agencies directed to act

Department of the Interior

Funding and costs

Congressional Budget Office estimate

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1276 would have no budgetary effect, with zero impact on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit in any scoring window.

H.R. 1276 would remove deed restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky that the National Park Service conveyed to the city in 2012 under the Federal Lands to Parks Program; the land is currently used for a recreational youth center. CBO estimates no budgetary effect because the federal government is not expected to forgo any receipts from mineral leases or other activities as a result of the bill. Direct spending, revenues, and the deficit all remain at zero over the 2025–2035 scoring window, and the bill would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any later ten-year period. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.

View the full CBO cost estimate

Legislative status & sources

Latest action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

2026-03-04

Official CRS summary

Show the CRS summary

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove all deed restrictions from approximately 3.62 acres located at 2956 Park Avenue, on the Paducah Memorial Army Reserve Center in Paducah, Kentucky. The restrictions include easements, exceptions, reservations, terms, conditions, and covenants described in the quitclaim deed that was executed on April 27, 2012. The deed conveyed land from Interior to the City of Paducah, Kentucky.

From the Congressional Research Service.

Legislative subjects

Kentucky; Land transfers; Land use and conservation; Public Lands and Natural Resources

Committee report

H. Rept. 119-281

Congressional Bill

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HR 1276: To remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky. | Legislation Reporter