An Act Regarding Consent to Land Transfers to the Federal Government

Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §15  is amended to read:

§ 15. Consent of Legislature to acquisition of land by United States for public buildings; record of conveyances

In accordance with the Constitution of the United States, Article 1, Section VIII, Clause 17, and Acts of Congress in such cases provided, the consent of the Legislature is given to the acquisition by the United States, or under its authority, by purchase, condemnation or otherwise, of any land in this State required for the erection of lighthouses or for sites for customhouses, courthouses, post offices, arsenals or other public buildings, or for any other purposes of the government. Deeds and conveyances or title papers for the same shall must be recorded upon the land records of the county or registry district in which the land so conveyed may lie; and in like manner may be recorded a sufficient description by metes and bounds, courses and distances, of any tracts and legal divisions of any public lands belonging to the United States set apart by the general government for either of the purposes before mentioned, by an order, patent or other official paper so describing such land. These deeds and conveyances or title papers must contain a covenant requiring that all right, title and interest in the property revert to the grantor if the United States attempts to designate this property a national monument pursuant to 54 United States Code, Section 320301 (2015).

summary

This bill amends the laws governing the consent that is given by the State to the Federal Government to acquire land to require that such an acquisition include a reverter clause to apply in the event the Federal Government attempts to designate such land a national monument.