March 14, 2025
Ms. Leger Fernandez (for herself and Mr. Fry) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To provide for an exchange of certain Federal and non-Federal land in Artesia, New Mexico, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Caza Ranches LLC and Department of Homeland Security Land Exchange Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Land exchange
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Centers
The term Centers
means the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers and related facilities that are located in Artesia, New Mexico.
(2) Federal land
The term Federal land
means the approximately 160 acres of land in Artesia, New Mexico, generally depicted as FLETC/DHS Federal Land to be Exchanged to CAZA
, with the following identification and description:
(A) Identification
Parcel Number: 4–149–096–266–460.
(B) Description
Township 16 South, Range 25 East, Section 35: S ½ S ½.
(3) Map
The term Map
means a map depicting the Federal land and the non-Federal land, as agreed to by the Centers and Caza Ranches LLC.
(4) Non-Federal land
The term non-Federal Land
means the approximately 160 acres of land owned by Caza Ranches LLC, generally depicted as CAZA to be Exchanged to FLETC/DHS Federal Land
on the Map, but does not include any subsurface rights to the land vested in a third party, with the following identification and description:
(A) Identification
Parcel Number: 4–147–097–132–132.
(B) Description
Township 17 South, Range 25 East, Section 4: NW ¼.
(5) Secretary
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(b) Exchange of lands
(1) In general
Upon receiving an offer from the Caza Ranches LLC to convey to the Secretary all right, title, and interest of the Caza Ranches LLC in and to the non-Federal land, the Secretary is authorized to accept the offer and to convey to Caza Ranches LLC all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land.
(2) Land title
Title to the non-Federal land conveyed to the Secretary under this section shall conform to the title approval standards of the Attorney General of the United States applicable to land acquisitions by the Federal Government.
(c) Exchange terms and appraisals
(1) In general
The exchange of Federal and non-Federal lands under subsection (b) shall be subject to the following:
(A)
Any valid existing rights as of the date of the enactment of this section.
(B)
Any additional terms and conditions the Secretary determines appropriate to protect the interests of the United States, including with respect to any of the rights referred to in subparagraph (A).
(2) Costs
The costs of carrying out the exchange of lands under subsection (b) shall be shared equally by the Secretary and the Caza Ranches LLC.
(3) Equal value exchange
The value of the lands exchanged under subsection (b) shall be deemed equal.
(4) Memorialization
All terms and conditions for the exchange of lands under subsection (b) shall be memorialized in a written exchange agreement that is signed by Caza Ranches LLC and the Secretary.
(d) Acquisition of land for training purposes boundary adjustment
On acceptance of title to the non-Federal land by the Secretary—
(1)
the non-Federal land shall be added to and administered as part of the Centers;
(2)
the Centers shall use such land to erect structures in support of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ training mission; and
(3)
the boundaries of the Centers shall be adjusted to exclude the exchanged Federal land.
(e) Maps, estimates, and descriptions
(1) Minor errors
The Secretary and the Caza Ranches LLC may, by mutual agreement, carry out the following:
(A)
Make minor boundary adjustments to the Federal and non-Federal lands involved in the exchange under this section.
(B)
Correct any minor errors in the Map or any other map, acreage estimate, or legal description of any such lands.
(2) Conflict
If there is a conflict between a map, an acreage estimate, or a legal description of the lands involved in the exchange under this section, the Map shall control unless the Secretary and the Caza Ranches LLC mutually agree otherwise.
(3) Availability
The Secretary shall file and make available for public inspection in the New Mexico headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security a copy of the Map and any other map referred to in this section.