What changed between these versions
A complete substitute amendment. The bill's short title year was updated from 2025 to 2026, map references for both conveyances were changed, and the reversion clause for conveyed properties was modified to grant the Secretary discretion. Additionally, the acreage for the Apache County conveyance was reduced.
Overview
A handful of significant changes were made across the bill. · v4 refines and slightly narrows the scope of the Apache County conveyance while adding a discretionary element to the reversion clauses for both counties.
v4 is a complete substitute amendment for H.R. 1829, primarily updating the bill's short title year from 2025 to 2026. Key changes include updated map titles and dates for both the Navajo and Apache County conveyances, and a significant modification to the reversion clauses, introducing Secretarial discretion for property reacquisition. Furthermore, the total acreage designated for conveyance to Apache County has been reduced.
Modifications
This updates the official short title of the Act to reflect the current legislative year, impacting how the bill is formally referenced.
Before
The Act was cited as the "Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025".
After
The Act is now cited as the "Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2026".
This specifies a new, updated map for the Pinedale Cemetery expansion, potentially reflecting revised boundaries or details for the land to be conveyed to Navajo County.
Before
The map for the Navajo County conveyance was titled "Pinedale Cemetery Expansion" and dated May 23, 2022.
After
The map for the Navajo County conveyance is now titled "Pinedale Cemetery" and dated February 18, 2026.
This provides more formal and consistent naming conventions for the parcels on the updated map, improving clarity in the land description for Navajo County.
Before
The parcels for Navajo County were generally depicted as "Exist. Cemetery" and "Proposed Expansion".
After
The parcels for Navajo County are now generally depicted as "Pinedale Cemetery: Existing" and "Pinedale Cemetery: Expansion".
This grants the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to decide whether to reclaim the property if its use becomes inconsistent, rather than an automatic reversion, potentially offering more flexibility to Navajo County.
Before
The property conveyed to Navajo County would automatically revert to the United States if used inconsistently with the cemetery requirement.
After
The property conveyed to Navajo County will revert to the United States, at the discretion of the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that reversion is in the best interest of the United States, if used inconsistently.
This specifies a new, updated map for the Alpine Cemetery and Townsite, potentially reflecting revised boundaries or details for the land to be conveyed to Apache County.
Before
The map for the Apache County conveyance was titled "Exhibit, Alpine Cemetery Townsite" and dated October, 2019.
After
The map for the Apache County conveyance is now titled "Alpine Cemetery" and dated February 18, 2026.
This reduces the total acreage to be conveyed to Apache County from approximately 10.62 acres (2.56 + 8.06) to approximately 8.17 acres (2.00 + 6.17), narrowing the scope of the land transfer.
Before
Parcel (A) for Apache County was "Existing Alpine Cemetery" at approximately 2.56 acres; Parcel (B) was "Proposed Townsite Tract" at approximately 8.06 acres.
After
Parcel (A) for Apache County is now "Alpine Cemetery: Existing" at approximately 2.00 acres; Parcel (B) is "Alpine Cemetery: Expansion" at approximately 6.17 acres.
This grants the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to decide whether to reclaim the property if its use becomes inconsistent, rather than an automatic reversion, potentially offering more flexibility to Apache County.
Before
The property conveyed to Apache County would automatically revert to the United States if used inconsistently with the cemetery requirement.
After
The property conveyed to Apache County will revert to the United States, at the discretion of the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that reversion is in the best interest of the United States, if used inconsistently.
Scope
Meaningful expansion or narrowing — Changes are scattered throughout the bill, affecting the short title and specific provisions within both Section 2 (Navajo County) and Section 3 (Apache County). — v4 represents a refinement of the land conveyance policy, particularly by introducing Secretarial discretion in reversion clauses and slightly narrowing the acreage for one of the conveyances. The core policy of conveying land for cemetery use remains. — The changes primarily affect the specific land conveyances and their terms, without broad interaction with other federal land management provisions beyond those explicitly referenced.
Impact analysis
Navajo County, Arizona
Procedural change, potentially beneficial.
The reversion of conveyed property for inconsistent use is no longer automatic but subject to the Secretary's discretion.
Apache County, Arizona
Narrows the scope of land acquisition, procedural change (potentially beneficial) for reversion.
The total acreage to be conveyed to Apache County has been reduced, and the reversion of conveyed property for inconsistent use is no longer automatic but subject to the Secretary's discretion.
Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service)
Grants new authority/discretion.
Gains discretion in determining whether to revert conveyed properties if they are used inconsistently with the required cemetery purpose.