An original bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of property of the Forest Service to Perry County, Arkansas, and for other purposes.
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Would require the U.S. Forest Service to transfer roughly 0.81 acres of federal land in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County at no cost, provided the county requests the conveyance within 180 days of enactment and uses the property for public purposes such as education and youth development.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey all federal right, title, and interest in a Forest Service parcel — approximately 0.81 acres at 1069 Fourche Avenue in Perryville, Arkansas — to Perry County, Arkansas, if the county submits a written request within 180 days of enactment. The transfer would be made by quitclaim deed, without payment to the federal government, and subject to valid existing rights and any other conditions the Secretary deems appropriate to protect federal interests.
The county would bear all costs associated with the conveyance, including survey, environmental analysis, and any review required under the National Historic Preservation Act. The property could only be used for public purposes, such as supporting education and youth development; if it ceases to be so used, the property would revert to the United States at the Forest Service's discretion. The Forest Service would not be required to provide any covenant or warranty on the property or its improvements.
Key provisions
- 1Would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey approximately 0.81 acres of Forest Service land in Perryville, Arkansas, to Perry County if the county requests it within 180 days of enactment.
- 2Would require the exact acreage and legal description to be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Forest Service before transfer.
- 3Would require the conveyance to be made by quitclaim deed, without monetary consideration, and subject to valid existing rights and federal-interest conditions.
- 4Would require Perry County to pay all conveyance costs, including survey, environmental analysis, and National Historic Preservation Act compliance review.
- 5Would restrict the property to public purposes such as education and youth development, with reversion to the United States at the Forest Service's discretion if that use ceases.
Who would be affected
Perry County, Arkansas, which would receive the parcel and become responsible for its use and upkeep. County residents who might use the property for education or youth development programs would also be affected. The Forest Service would be relieved of ownership and maintenance obligations for this specific parcel.
Why it matters
For Perry County, the transfer would deliver roughly 0.81 acres of federal land at no purchase cost, potentially enabling a new local public facility. The reversion clause and use restriction mean the county assumes ongoing obligations: if the property is repurposed away from public uses, ownership reverts to the federal government, creating long-term accountability for the county.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)(A)) (Sec. 1(e))
Exempts this specific conveyance from the requirement that the federal government provide a covenant or warranty regarding environmental conditions of the transferred property.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- 180-day window for Perry County to submit a written conveyance request
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that enacting S. 3095 would have no effect on the federal budget over the 2026–2036 period.
S. 3095 would direct the Forest Service to transfer a federal office building and roughly one acre of land in Perry County, Arkansas, to the county at no charge, provided the county requests the property, pays all conveyance costs, and uses the site for educational and youth development services. Because the property currently generates no federal receipts and all transfer costs would be borne by the county, CBO estimates zero effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit in any scoring window through 2036 and beyond. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
The county must submit a written conveyance request to the Secretary of Agriculture within 180 days of enactment to trigger the transfer. The Secretary, acting through the Forest Service Chief, would then conduct or require a survey to establish the exact acreage and legal description. The county pays all associated costs — survey, environmental review, and National Historic Preservation Act compliance — before or as part of the transfer. The deed would be a quitclaim with no federal warranty. The Forest Service retains discretionary authority to reclaim the property if the public-purpose use condition is violated.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 259.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill directs the Forest Service to convey approximately one acre of land to Perry County, Arkansas, upon the request of the county. The county must use the land for public purposes, such as supporting education and youth development. If it ceases to be used for such purposes, then the property must, at the discretion of the Forest Service, revert to the United States.
The exact acreage of land to be conveyed must be determined by a survey satisfactory to the Forest Service.
The conveyance must be subject to valid existing rights, made without consideration, made by quitclaim deed, and subject to other terms and conditions that the Forest Service considers to be appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
As a condition of the conveyance, the county must pay costs associated with the conveyance, including the cost of a survey, any environmental analysis or resources survey required under federal law, and any analysis required to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act.
The bill prohibits the Forest Service from having to provide any covenant or warranty for the property and improvements conveyed to the county.
Legislative subjects
Arkansas; Geography and mapping; Land transfers; Public Lands and Natural Resources