119-S-1262 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

A bipartisan Wisconsin bill would lift an old federal use restriction on about 32 acres in Black River State Forest so the state can trade that land with a local sphagnum moss company in exchange for nearly 37 acres that would be added to the forest. [3]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text of S.1262 — 119th Congress (Introduce…

What It Does

S. 1262 tells the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to release the federal “reversionary interest” that requires certain state-owned forest land be used only for public purposes. If Wisconsin signs a written swap agreement with Deli, Inc., the Secretary must record a quitclaim deed releasing the federal claim, allowing the state to convey about 31.83 acres to the company; in return, roughly 37.27 acres owned or optioned by Deli, Inc. would be added to Black River State Forest. [3]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text of S.1262 — 119th Congress (Introduce…

By the numbers

Who’s For It

• Sen. Ron Johnson (R‑WI), sponsor, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D‑WI), cosponsor — call it a locally targeted, bipartisan land-swap fix. [2]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — S.1262 — 119th Congress | Overview and Sta…
• Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee — advanced the bill in a business meeting on October 21, 2025. [1]U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — Lands Bills App…[4]U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — Senate Agricult…
• Likely local/state land managers — the bill’s text notes Wisconsin’s intent to add the Deli, Inc. parcels to the state forest after the exchange, suggesting alignment with state management plans. [3]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text of S.1262 — 119th Congress (Introduce…

Who’s Against It

• No formal opposition is listed on Congress.gov or in the committee’s release as of October 28, 2025. [2]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — S.1262 — 119th Congress | Overview and Sta…[1]U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — Lands Bills App…
• Common concerns with similar releases: setting a precedent for loosening federal public‑use protections; ensuring fair value and environmental review; and maintaining public access after boundary changes. (These are general issues often raised in state–private land swaps, not specific recorded objections to S. 1262.)

What’s Next

The bill cleared the Senate Agriculture Committee on October 21, 2025 and now awaits consideration by the full Senate; Congress.gov had not yet updated beyond the introduced stage at the time of writing, which is common while post‑markup paperwork is processed. [1]U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — Lands Bills App…[2]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — S.1262 — 119th Congress | Overview and Sta…

Tone

Neutral, plain‑English overview focused on what changes on the ground and where the bill sits in the process.