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H.R. 197: Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

119th Congress · introduced 2025-01-03 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 218.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

Plain summary

Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025 This bill directs the Forest Service to exchange specified land along the shoreline of Lake Winnibigoshish (commonly known as Lake Winnie) in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota for specified land owned by Big Winnie Land and Timber, LLC (BWLT), if BWLT offers to make the exchange. The land acquired by the Forest Service must be added to and managed as part of Chippewa National Forest. The bill outlines requirements and conditions for the exchange. For example, the Forest Service must reserve an easement for road access to certain land in the forest. The bill also conditions the exchange on the satisfactory completion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment by BWLT before the nonfederal land is accepted in the exchange. In addition, the exchange must be for equal value or the values must be equalized by a cash payment, subject to an exception. Finally, the bill directs BWLT to pay all closing costs associated with the exchange.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] · 2 cosponsors

Money: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 197, Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025 (2026-02-04) No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-hr197 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills