H.R. 1276: To remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky.
Sponsor
James Comer
Republican · KY-1
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 4, 2026
Passed the House, received in Senate
Why it matters
This matters now because HR 1276 would let the Secretary of the Interior strip federal deed restrictions from a specific 3.62-acre site at 2956 Park Avenue in Paducah, Kentucky, opening the way for a new local use under tightly defined conditions.
The bill also keeps a public-purpose backstop in place. Any new use or development must remain compatible with public use or recreation purposes. So the practical effect is to free the property from old deed limits while preserving a narrow transfer path, a federal right of first refusal, and a requirement that future activity still fit public or recreational use.
What does H.R. 1276 do?
Interior must remove deed limits on 3.62 acres
The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to execute the instruments needed to remove all deed restrictions from an approximately 3.62-acre parcel at 2956 Park Avenue in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky, including the improvements on the land.
Applies to restrictions from April 27, 2012 deed
The restrictions covered by the bill come from the quitclaim deed from the United States to the City of Paducah, Kentucky, executed on April 27, 2012, and recorded in McCracken County in Deed Book 1229, pages 247 through 260.
Restrictions defined broadly in the bill
HR 1276 says the removable restrictions include easements, exceptions, reservations, terms, conditions, and covenants from the 2012 quitclaim deed, making the cleanup broader than just one narrow condition.
City can transfer land only to named club
Even after the restrictions are removed, the City of Paducah is prohibited from transferring or selling the parcel to any entity other than the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah.
Federal right of first refusal at zero cost
If the City of Paducah transfers or sells the parcel to the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah, the Club must offer to convey the land to the Secretary of the Interior without consideration before conveying it to any other entity.
Future use must stay public or recreational
The bill requires that any new use or development of the parcel remain compatible with public use or recreation purposes, preserving a public-facing standard even after deed restrictions are extinguished.
Who benefits from H.R. 1276?
City of Paducah, Kentucky
The city gains flexibility over a parcel it already received from the United States under the April 27, 2012 quitclaim deed, because the Secretary of the Interior would remove deed restrictions affecting the approximately 3.62-acre site at 2956 Park Avenue.
Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah
The Club becomes the only entity the City of Paducah is allowed to transfer or sell the parcel to, giving it a uniquely favored position if the city decides to move the property.
Local residents seeking recreation-oriented use
Residents could benefit because any new use or development on the 3.62-acre parcel must remain compatible with public use or recreation purposes, limiting the chance of a purely private or unrelated project.
Department of the Interior
The department gets a clear, congressionally directed process: remove restrictions from one defined parcel and retain a right to receive the land back without consideration before the Club could convey it to another entity.
Who is affected by H.R. 1276?
City of Paducah, Kentucky
The city would have more control over the land, but it also faces a strict limit: it cannot transfer or sell the parcel to anyone except the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah.
Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah
The Club could receive the property, but if it later wants to convey the land to any other entity, it must first offer it to the Secretary of the Interior without consideration.
Other potential buyers or nonprofit operators
Any group other than the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah is effectively shut out from receiving the parcel directly from the City of Paducah under the bill's transfer restriction.
Federal land managers at the Department of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior is required to carry out the legal paperwork needed to remove restrictions tied to the deed recorded in Deed Book 1229, pages 247 through 260, while also potentially taking back the land if offered later.
H.R. 1276 Common Questions
Can Paducah sell the 2956 Park Avenue property to anyone other than the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club?
No. Under HR 1276, the City of Paducah may transfer or sell the parcel only to the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah (Section 1(c)).
How many acres are covered by HR 1276 in Paducah, Kentucky?
HR 1276 covers approximately 3.62 acres at 2956 Park Avenue in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky, including all improvements on the parcel (Section 1(d)).
Does the Boys & Girls Club have to offer the Paducah land back to the federal government for free?
Yes. Under HR 1276, if the Club gets the parcel, it must first offer to convey it to the Secretary of the Interior without consideration before selling to anyone else (Section 1(c)).
What are the deed restrictions HR 1276 removes from the Paducah property?
According to HR 1276 Section 1(b), the removable restrictions include easements, exceptions, reservations, terms, conditions, and covenants in the 2012 quitclaim deed.
Does HR 1276 allow any future use of the Paducah parcel after restrictions are removed?
No. Under HR 1276, any new use or development must remain compatible with public use or recreation purposes (Section 1(c)).
Which deed does HR 1276 say the Paducah restrictions come from?
HR 1276 points to the quitclaim deed from the United States to the City of Paducah executed on April 27, 2012, recorded in Deed Book 1229, pages 247 through 260 (Section 1(b)).
Can the Secretary of the Interior remove all restrictions on the Paducah Memorial Army Reserve Center parcel?
Yes. Under HR 1276, the Secretary of the Interior must execute the instruments needed to remove all deed restrictions, subject to the bill's conditions (Section 1(a)).
Does HR 1276 include the buildings and improvements on the Paducah land?
Yes. According to HR 1276 Section 1(d), the parcel includes all improvements on the approximately 3.62-acre site at 2956 Park Avenue.
What is the exact address of the Paducah property in HR 1276?
Under HR 1276, the land is located at 2956 Park Avenue, Paducah Memorial Army Reserve Center, in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky (Section 1(d)).
Is HR 1276 limited to deed restrictions from one specific recorded document in McCracken County?
Yes. Under HR 1276, the restrictions to be removed are those in the April 27, 2012 quitclaim deed recorded by the McCracken County Clerk in Deed Book 1229, pages 247-260 (Section 1(b)).
Based on H.R. 1276 bill text
HR1276 Legislative Journey
Passed Committee
Mar 4, 2026
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee Action
Dec 10, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
House: Vote Held
Dec 9, 2025
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5073)
House: Committee Action
Sep 15, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-281.
House: Passed Committee
Jul 23, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
+1 more action this day
House: Committee Action
Jun 25, 2025
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
House: Committee Action
Apr 29, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
House: Committee Action
Apr 23, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
House: Committee Action
Feb 13, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
About the Sponsor
James Comer
Republican, Kentucky's 1st congressional district · 10 years in Congress
Committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Education and Workforce
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
0 of 20 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Natural Resources Committee
0 of 43 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
35 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1276 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Energy and Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Introduced
- Feb 13, 2025
Passed the House, received in Senate
Mar 4, 2026
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the bill, including text, status, and actions.
Official published bill text containing the parcel description, deed restriction language, and transfer conditions cited in the FAQs.
Congressional Budget Office cost estimate for H.R. 1276, relevant to the bill's fiscal impact.
The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to remove the deed restrictions and potentially receive the parcel back in a future conveyance.
BLM is a major Interior land-management bureau and may provide context for federal land conveyance and restriction removal practices.
Official government repository for congressional bill documents and versions, useful for verifying the statutory text of H.R. 1276.
Official source for federal statutory text, useful if the bill analysis needs links to underlying legal authorities or land conveyance statutes.
H.R. 1276 Bill Text
“To remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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