Bills
| 3.23.22

Settling Who Owns the Land Along the Red River (S. 1153)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is S. 1153?

(Updated March 15, 2018)

This bill sides with those who believe the land along the Red River is private property. It would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to accept all claims of ownership that can be proven through official State or county records. If proven, the BLM must officially grant ownership to the private parties through a quitclaim deed. The bill also dictates that proof of ownership requests must be processed within a 120-day period.

Argument in favor

Offers protections to land owners along the Red River by thwarting claims of ownership by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Also provides guidelines for determining ownership of the disputed river land between Texas and Oklahoma.

Argument opposed

The land in dispute has never been technically owned by anyone in Texas or Oklahoma. Under the BLM’s control, the land can be made accessible to the public, preserved, or used by those who believe they owned it under federal regulation.

Impact

People who believe they own private land along the Red River; the BLM; and those who would like public access to the disputed land.

Cost of S. 1153

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In Depth: Sponsoring Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) explained in a press release that the bill would protect property rights:

"Texas families that have owned land along the Red River for generations deserve certainty that their property rights will be protected from overreach by the Obama Administration. Today’s vote is a positive step toward ensuring the federal government’s land claims are restrained and Texas landowner rights are protected."

Of Note: Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced H.R. 4979 as a companion to this bill. Both come in response to an announcement made by the BLM claiming that roughly 90,000 acres along the Red River between Texas and Oklahoma could be considered public property. This includes Wilbarger, Wichita, and Clay counties. If proven to be private property, the land in question cannot be used in any way for the BLM’s Resource Management Plan. 

Media:

Image from Wikimedia Commons user Unherdable