October 28, 2025
Mr. Van Orden introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
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.
Section 1. Release of reversionary interest
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Deli, Inc.
The term Deli, Inc. means Deli, Inc., a sphagnum moss production business located in Millston, Wisconsin.
(2) Deli land
The term Deli land means the approximately 37.27 acres of land owned or optioned to acquire, subject to the approval of the land exchange by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, and the Governor of Wisconsin, in 2 separate parcels, by Deli, Inc., and located in Millston, Wisconsin, as depicted on the map and as described as follows:
(A)
A parcel of real property containing approximately 31.3 acres (which includes land within the road right-of-way), together with any improvements—
(i)
comprising the NE¼NE¼ sec. 29, T. 20 N., R. 2 W., Town of Millston, Jackson County, Wisconsin;
(ii)
excluding—
(I)
land lying north of the railroad right-of-way; and
(II)
a parcel 150 feet wide, with 50 feet lying to the northeast, and 100 feet to the southwest, of a line commencing at a point 5 feet east of the northwest corner of the quarter-quarter section described in clause (i), thence south 56° east 39' a distance of 222 feet, thence south 57° east 31' a distance of 1359 feet; and
(iii)
subject to—
(I)
any public water use or easements on Lee Lake; and
(II)
any easements or restrictions of record, public roadways, zoning and use ordinances, and the railroad right-of-way.
(B)
A parcel of real property containing approximately 5.97 acres located in the SW¼SW¼ sec. 20, T. 20 N., R. 4 W., Town of Millston, Jackson County, Wisconsin, comprising lot 7 of Certified Survey Map No. 4483, as recorded in volume 19S of the certified survey maps, page 334, as Document No. 413440 in the Jackson County Register of Deeds.
(3) Map
The term map means the map entitled Black River State Forest – Deli, Inc.
and dated June 26, 2023.
(4) State
The term State means the State of Wisconsin.
(5) State forest land
The term State forest land means the approximately 31.83 acres of land located in the Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin, as depicted on the map and as described as follows:
(A)
A parcel containing 23.13 acres—
(i)
comprising the portion of the E½SE¼ sec. 20, T. 20 N., R. 2. W., Town of Millston, Jackson County, Wisconsin, lying south of the Interstate Highway 94 southern right-of-way; and
(ii)
excluding a triangular parcel in the southwest corner described as commencing at the southwest corner, thence east 260 feet, thence northwesterly to a point on the west boundary thereof 200 feet north of the southwest corner, thence south to the place of beginning.
(B)
A parcel containing 8.70 acres comprising the portion of the NE¼NE¼ sec. 29, T. 20 N., R. 2. W., Town of Millston, Jackson County, Wisconsin, lying north of the railroad right-of-way, forming a triangular piece and described as commencing at the northeast corner of that quarter-quarter section, thence west 1010 feet to the north line of the railroad right-of-way, thence southeasterly along the boundary of the railroad to the east line of that quarter-quarter section, thence north on the east line 750 feet to the place of beginning.
(b) Conditional release
(1) Findings
Congress finds that—
(A)
the State forest land is subject to a reversionary interest of the United States pursuant to section 32(c) of The Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(c)), requiring that the State forest land be used for public purposes in perpetuity; and
(B)
the State and Deli, Inc. have agreed that the State will convey the State forest land in exchange for the Deli land, and the Deli land will be added to Black River State Forest in the State.
(2) Conditional release
If the State offers in a written agreement to convey the State forest land to Deli, Inc., in exchange for the conveyance of the Deli land to the State—
(A)
the reversionary interest of the United States in the State forest land shall be released; and
(B)
the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide, as expeditiously as possible, recordable evidence of the release under subparagraph (A) in the form of a quitclaim deed, which shall—
(i)
convey any interest of the United States in the State forest land without consideration; and
(ii)
be provided to the State for recording before the exchange deeds are recorded.
(3) Corrections
The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the State, may make any necessary corrections to the legal description of the State forest land for purposes of the quitclaim deed described in paragraph (2)(B).