Forest Service could hand over cemetery land to tribes and local groups at no cost

What does this do?

HR 4284 would allow the U.S. Forest Service to transfer ownership of cemeteries on national forest land, up to 40 acres, to qualifying recipients at no cost. The transferred land must be used only as a cemetery, and the federal government can reclaim it if that condition is violated. Processing fees for the transfer can also be waived if the new owner cannot afford them.

Who does it affect?

Eligible recipients are state or local governments, federally recognized Native American tribes, and traditional New Mexico community land grants with a historical connection to the cemetery. Communities with burial grounds on Forest Service land that they do not currently own or control are most directly affected.

Why does it matter?

Federal land generally cannot be transferred without payment, so this bill creates a specific exception for burial sites. Without such a law, tribes, small towns, and historic New Mexico land grant communities have no legal path to ownership of cemeteries on forest land tied to their histories.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Land transferred at no charge
• Fees can be waived for those unable to pay