May 19, 2026
Mr. Valadao (for himself and Mr. Fong) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To authorize the conveyance of and remove the reversionary interest of the United States in certain lands in the City of Tulare, California.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Tulare Youth Recreation and Women’s History Enhancement Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The City of Tulare requires clear title to two Parcels of land within the City’s business corridor.
(2)
The Parcels are part of a right-of-way granted to the Railroad by the Federal Government by the Act dated July 27, 1866.
(3)
The Parcels, which are currently under lease to the City, are currently occupied by an outdoor recreation facility for youth and an historic women’s club.
(4)
The City desires to improve and restore these facilities but cannot absent clear title to the Parcels.
(5)
The United States retained a reversionary interest in the Parcels conveyed to the Railroad in 1866 and has not exercised this authority.
(6)
The Union Pacific Railroad desires to sell the Parcels to the City.
(7)
Public Law 105–195 conveyed the reversionary interest to all surrounding Parcels in 1998, which were conveyed by the Union Pacific Railroad to the City.
Sec. 3. Authorization of conveyance and removal of reversionary interest
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) City
The term City means the City of Tulare, California.
(2) Map
The term Map means the map entitled Tulare Railroad Parcels Proposed to be Acquired,
dated April 30, 2015.
(3) Parcels
The term Parcels means the land identified as Tulare Railroad Proposed Parcels
on the Map.
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(5) Railroad
The term Railroad means Union Pacific Railroad.
(b) Reversionary Interest Extinguished
(1) In general
To promote recreational opportunities for youth and commemorate women’s history in the City, the United States authorizes the conveyance of and relinquishes its reversionary interest in the Parcels retained under the Act of July 27, 1866 (14 Stat. 292, chapter 278).
(2) Required documentation
The relinquishment of the reversionary interest under paragraph (1) shall be executed by the Secretary in an instrument that—
(A)
is suitable for recording in the records of Tulare County, California; and
(B)
references this Act and any prior instruments relating to the United States interest in the Parcels.
(3) Costs
Any costs associated with the required documentation under paragraph (2) shall be paid by the City.
(4) Condition
The relinquishment of the reversionary interest under paragraph (1) shall be effective on the date that the Railroad conveys the Parcels to the City.
(c) Map on file
The Map shall be kept on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management.
(d) Preservation of existing rights of access
Nothing in this Act shall impair any existing rights of access in favor of the public or any owner of adjacent lands over, under or across the Parcels.
(e) Surface entry
The Parcels shall be subject to the same conditions as those parcels affected by Public Law 105–195 regarding rights of surface entry.