To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.

House Bill

H.R. 837

119th Congress

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 4, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Elijah Crane

R - AZ

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary

This bill would transfer approximately 233 acres of federal forest land in Arizona's Tonto National Forest to Gila County at no cost, with the requirement that the land be used exclusively to serve and support military veterans. If the county stops using the property for veterans' services, ownership automatically returns to the federal government.

Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

Introduced2/4/2026

StatusCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.

This bill would transfer approximately 233 acres of federal forest land in Arizona's Tonto National Forest to Gila County at no cost, with the requirement that the land be used exclusively to serve and support military veterans. If the county stops using the p

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill would transfer approximately 233 acres of federal forest land in Arizona's Tonto National Forest to Gila County at no cost, with the requirement that the land be used exclusively to serve and support military veterans. If the county stops using the property for veterans' services, ownership automatically returns to the federal government.

Bill Number: 837
Introduced: 2/4/2026
Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Policy Area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
Bill Number: 837
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Introduced: 2/4/2026
Summary: This bill would transfer approximately 233 acres of federal forest land in Arizona's Tonto National Forest to Gila County at no cost, with the requirement that the land be used exclusively to serve and support military veterans. If the county stops using the property for veterans' services, ownershi

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would transfer approximately 233 acres of federal forest land in Arizona's Tonto National Forest to Gila County at no cost, with the requirement that the land be used exclusively to serve and support military veterans. If the county stops using the property for veterans' services, ownership automatically returns to the federal government.

Last updated: 3/1/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

This bill directs the Forest Service to convey specified property to Gila County, Arizona, upon the county's submission of a written request for such conveyance. The property, identified as the Gila County Area, consists of approximately 232.9 acres of National Forest System land located in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.The county must use the land for the purposes of serving and supporting veterans. If any land conveyed under this bill ceases to be used for such purpose, all right, title, and interest in and to the land shall revert to the United States, at the discretion of the Forest Service.The conveyance must be made with a quitclaim deed and without consideration (value, such as payment, provided in exchange for the property).The Forest Service must not be required to provide any covenant or warranty for the land and improvements conveyed to the county under such conveyance.As a condition of the conveyance, the county must pay all the costs associated with the conveyance, including any (1) surveys, (2) environmental analysis or resource survey required under federal law, and (3) analysis required to comply with certain provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Transfers 233 acres of Tonto National Forest land to Gila County, Arizona, specifically for creating facilities or programs that serve military veterans
The county receives the land for free but must pay all transfer costs including surveys, environmental reviews, and legal requirements
Includes a 'reversion clause' ensuring the land returns to federal ownership if it's ever used for purposes other than supporting veterans
The federal government provides no guarantees about the condition of the land or any existing structures on it
Bill has advanced through committee with favorable recommendation and an amendment

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily benefit veterans in Gila County, Arizona, by enabling the county to develop dedicated facilities or services on this federal land without purchasing it. Local taxpayers in Gila County would cover the administrative costs of the transfer. The legislation represents a targeted approach to repurposing underutilized federal property for veterans' needs while maintaining federal oversight through the reversion clause to ensure the land serves its intended purpose.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

837, 119th Congress (2026). "To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-837