PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8] · R–CO
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Sep 25, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-16 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed Greeley Land Exchange Act would require a land swap if Greeley, Colorado, offers its land and the bill’s conditions are met. The city would receive about 78 acres of national forest land in exchange for about 40 acres, keeping its water rights. Public walking and other nonmotorized access along two trails would be preserved through permanent access rights. The city would cover exchange costs and make up any shortfall in the value it provides through additional land, cash, or both.
This Act may be cited as the Greeley Land Exchange Act.
The term Federal land means the approximately 78 acres of National Forest System land administered by the Forest Service
The term non-Federal land means— (A) the approximately 40 acres of land owned by the City and generally depicted as City of Greeley, Water Utilities Property on the Map; and (B) excludes all water rights owned by the City.
Subject to subsection (c), if the City offers to convey to the United States all right, title, and interest of the City in and to the non-Federal land, excluding all water rights owned by the City, the Secretary shall
a perpetual, non-exclusive easement for public nonmotorized access over the Seaman Reservoir Trail and the Wintersteen Trail to adjacent National Forest System land that is consistent with the nature and extent of public access in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act
the exchange under subsection (b) shall be for equal value, with any difference in value equalized by the conveyance of additional land under paragraph (3), a cash payment under paragraph (4), or a combination thereof.
As a condition for the exchange under subsection (b), the City shall pay all costs associated with the exchange
The Agriculture Secretary, acting through the Forest Service Chief, would administer the exchange. Once the city offers its land, the simultaneous transfers would be required within three years, subject to the bill’s conditions, unless the Secretary and city agree to a later date.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
Subject to subsection (c), if the City offers to convey to the United States all right, title, and interest of the City in and to the non-Federal land, excluding all water rights owned by the City, the Secretary shall, not later than 3 years after the date on which the Secretary receives the offer, or such later date as the Secretary and the City mutually agree, simultaneously
The federal government would retain permanent, shared access rights over Seaman Reservoir Trail and Wintersteen Trail for public nonmotorized access to adjacent national forest land. That access would have to remain consistent with its nature and extent when the bill becomes law.
convey to the City all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land and excepting and reserving to the United States— (A) a perpetual, non-exclusive easement for public nonmotorized access over the Seaman Reservoir Trail and the Wintersteen Trail to adjacent National Forest System land that is consistent with the nature and extent of public access in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act
The federal government and its agents would also retain permanent, shared access rights for motorized and nonmotorized travel for administration, emergencies, inspections, maintenance, repairs, reconstruction, and resource management.
a perpetual, nonexclusive easement for motorized and nonmotorized access by the United States and its agents for administrative, emergency, inspection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and resource-management purposes
Each parcel going to the United States would need a satisfactory Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, an initial environmental review supplied by the city and acceptable to the Secretary. The exchange would preserve valid existing rights and could include additional restrictions or other conditions the Secretary considers appropriate.
conditioned on the satisfactory completion, for each parcel to be conveyed to the United States, of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment that is provided by the City and acceptable to the Secretary; (4) subject to valid existing rights; and (5) subject to any other terms and conditions, including reservations, covenants, restrictions, and easements, that the Secretary determines appropriate.
The exchange generally would have to provide equal value, measured by appraisals rather than acreage. Additional land, cash, or both could make up a difference, subject to the special rule for city land worth more than the federal land.
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the exchange under subsection (b) shall be for equal value, with any difference in value equalized by the conveyance of additional land under paragraph (3), a cash payment under paragraph (4), or a combination thereof.
conditioned on equalization of value in accordance with subsection (d) if, under the appraisals conducted in accordance with this section, it is determined that the value of the Federal land exceeds the value of lands to be conveyed by the City
If the city’s land is appraised above the federal land’s value, the United States would not pay the city the difference. The waived payment would legally count as a city donation to the United States.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the appraised value of the non-Federal land to be conveyed to the United States exceeds the appraised value of the Federal land, a cash equalization payment by the United States to the City is hereby waived and the amount of such waived payment shall be considered a donation by the City to the United States for all purposes of law.
If the federal land is worth more, the city could offer up to 40 additional acres to help balance the values. The Secretary would have to agree and find the land suitable for the National Forest System. The additional land would need an appraisal and acceptable ownership title and condition; the city would retain all its water rights.
if the appraised value of the Federal land exceeds the appraised value of the non-Federal land, the City may, subject to agreement by the Secretary, convey to the United States additional land owned by the City that the Secretary determines is suitable for addition to and administration as part of the National Forest System, for the purpose of equalizing appraised values, exclusive of any water rights.
The total acreage of additional land conveyed under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 40 acres.
Any additional land conveyed under this paragraph shall be appraised in accordance with subsection (e), and be acceptable in title and condition to the Secretary. All water rights held by the City will be expressly reserved from conveyance.
The city would have to pay cash for any remaining excess of the federal land’s appraised value over the combined appraised value of the city land being transferred.
if the difference between the appraised value of the Federal land and the sum of the appraised value of the non-Federal land plus the appraised value of additional land conveyed to the United States under paragraph (3) is greater than zero, the City shall pay the Secretary a cash payment equal to such difference.
An independent, qualified appraiser chosen jointly by the Secretary and city would value the land. The Secretary would review and approve each appraisal, and appraisals would have to follow Forest Service policy and both named federal land acquisition and professional appraisal standards.
The value of the land to be exchanged under this section shall be determined by appraisals conducted by an independent and qualified appraiser mutually agreed to by the Secretary and the City. Each appraisal shall be reviewed and approved by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall complete appraisals of the land to be exchanged under this section in accordance with Forest Service policy and— (A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions; and (B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
Ownership title to city land transferred to the United States would require approval under section 3111 of title 40 of the United States Code. The supplied bill does not reproduce that law’s requirements.
Title to lands owned by the City and conveyed to the United States under this section shall be approved in accordance with section 3111 of title 40, United States Code.
Acquired federal land and land interests would become part of Roosevelt National Forest and generally be managed under National Forest System laws and regulations, with additional rules for land within the specified wilderness and river boundaries.
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), any lands or interests in lands acquired by the United States under this section shall become part of the Roosevelt National Forest and shall be managed in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to National Forest System.
Acquired land within the Cache la Poudre Wilderness boundary would join that wilderness and be managed under the Wilderness Act and other applicable law. Acquired land within the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River boundary would join that designated river area and be managed under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and other applicable law.
Any land or interest in land acquired by the United States under this section that is within the boundary of the Cache la Poudre Wilderness shall— (A) become part of the Cache la Poudre Wilderness; and (B) be managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and any other applicable law.
Any land or interest in land acquired by the United States under this section that is within the boundary of the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River shall— (A) become part of the Cache la Poudre Wild and Scenic River; and (B) be managed in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) and any other applicable law.
Surveys acceptable to the Secretary would determine exact acreages, legal land descriptions, and the reserved access rights. The city would pay all survey costs.
The exact acreages and legal descriptions of the Federal land and the non-Federal land to be exchanged under subsection (b), and any additional lands conveyed under subsection (d)(3), and each easement reserved under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1) shall be determined by surveys satisfactory to the Secretary.
The City shall bear all costs associated with each survey under paragraph (1).
The bill identifies a map dated May 3, 2026. As soon as practicable after enactment, the Secretary would finalize the map and legal descriptions, including additional land and reserved access rights. If a map and legal description disagree about land being transferred, the map would control.
The term Map means the map titled Greeley Land Exchange Act and dated May 3, 2026.
As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall finalize the Map and the legal descriptions of all lands to be conveyed under this section, including any additional lands conveyed under subsection (d)(3) and the easements reserved under subsection (b)(1).
With respect to lands to be conveyed under this section, if there is a discrepancy between a Map and a legal description, the Map shall control.
The Secretary and city could jointly correct minor errors in the map or legal descriptions, including boundary errors. The map and land descriptions would be available for public inspection at appropriate Forest Service offices.
The Secretary and the City, by mutual agreement, may correct any minor errors in the Map, or the legal descriptions, including with respect to the boundaries of the Federal land and the non-Federal land.
The Map, and the legal descriptions of all lands to be conveyed under this section, including any additional lands conveyed under subsection (d)(3), shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Forest Service.
The city would pay all exchange costs. Listed costs include appraisals, surveys, mineral examinations, ownership searches and insurance, work to resolve title problems, attorney fees, legally required environmental assessments and resource surveys, and closing expenses.
As a condition for the exchange under subsection (b), the City shall pay all costs associated with the exchange, including costs for— (1) appraisals and appraisal review; (2) surveys and preparation of legal descriptions; (3) mineral examinations; (4) title searches, title insurance, and title-curative work; (5) attorneys fees and recording fees; (6) environmental assessments and resource surveys required under Federal law or regulation; and (7) escrow, recording, and other closing expenses.
Unless the bill expressly provides otherwise, the exchange would follow section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the specified federal land exchange regulations.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, the Secretary shall carry out the exchange under this section in accordance with section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1716) and subpart A of part 254 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations.
The supplied actions snapshot, updated September 25, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Natural Resources on September 16, 2026. It does not establish what happened after that snapshot.
Source snapshot updated 2026-09-25T15:36:38Z. 2026-09-16: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. 2026-09-16: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-16. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to this version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending allocation meeting the supplied definition was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to this version; formal earmark status cannot be established without relevant accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The text provides a narrowly specified land transaction for a named municipality as its central policy. This classification does not establish a financial windfall or improper purpose.
Greeley would receive a specific opportunity to acquire approximately 78 acres of federal land through a conditional exchange while retaining its water rights in the land it transfers. This is a geographically and institutionally narrow benefit central to the bill. It is qualified by value-balancing requirements and the city’s obligation to pay all exchange costs.
The term City means the city of Greeley, Colorado.
The term Federal land means the approximately 78 acres of National Forest System land administered by the Forest Service and generally depicted as USFS Property on the Map.
Subject to subsection (c), if the City offers to convey to the United States all right, title, and interest of the City in and to the non-Federal land, excluding all water rights owned by the City, the Secretary shall, not later than 3 years after the date on which the Secretary receives the offer, or such later date as the Secretary and the City mutually agree, simultaneously— (1) convey to the City all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the exchange under subsection (b) shall be for equal value, with any difference in value equalized by the conveyance of additional land under paragraph (3), a cash payment under paragraph (4), or a combination thereof.
As a condition for the exchange under subsection (b), the City shall pay all costs associated with the exchange
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Sep 25, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI