H.R. 197 Passed the House Public Lands and Natural Resources

Lake Winnibigoshish Land Exchange Act of 2025

To provide for a land exchange in the Chippewa National Forest, Minnesota, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] Introduced January 3, 2025 Cosponsors 2 (2 R) Latest action October 27, 2025

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.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Oct 27, 2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 218.
  2. Oct 27, 2025 Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Boozman without amendment. Without written report.
  3. Oct 21, 2025 Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  4. Jan 22, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  5. Jan 21, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. Jan 21, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H242-243)
  7. Jan 21, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 197.
  8. Jan 21, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H242-244)
  9. Jan 21, 2025 Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  10. Jan 3, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  11. Jan 3, 2025 Introduced in House

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