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S. 638119th CongressPlaced on the calendarLatest action Oct 27, 2025Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: A bill to amend the Act of June 22, 1948.
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
S 638 would require the federal government to pay private landowners near Superior National Forest based on the highest historical appraisal, not current market value.
55-second read · 4 questions answered below
S 638 amends the Thye-Blatnik Act of 1948, which governs federal purchases of private land near Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. The bill would require the government to consider the highest appraised value a property has ever received, including past appraisals, rather than only its current fair market value. This means a landowner could receive a higher payment if their land was worth more at some point in the past than it is today.
The bill primarily affects private landowners with property near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota who sell land to the federal government. The U.S. Forest Service, which manages that region and oversees these purchases, would also be affected.
Shifting from current market value to the highest historical appraisal could result in the federal government paying more for some parcels of land than they are currently worth. The bill was introduced by Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, where it must be approved before advancing.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: it was placed on the Senate floor calendar, and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 208.