Title 43Public LandsRelease 119-73

§644 Preference right to entryman under State laws

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 14— - GRANTS OF DESERT LANDS TO STATES FOR RECLAMATION › § 644

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Secretary of the Interior returns lands that were set aside to a State under sections 641, 642, and 643, he can give a person who entered those lands under the State rules tied to section 641 — and who lived there or made substantial, permanent improvements — up to ninety days to have the first chance to enter the land under federal land laws. The time the person actually lived on the claim counts toward the residency needed for a new homestead entry.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §644

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior, when restoring to the public domain lands that have been segregated to a State under section 641, 642 and 643 11 See References in Text note below. of this title is authorized, in his discretion and under such rules and regulations as he may establish to allow for not exceeding ninety days to any entryman under section 641 of this title a preference right of entry under applicable land laws of any of such lands which such person had entered under and pursuant to the State laws providing for the administration of the grant under section 641 of this title and upon which such person had established actual bona fide residence or had made substantial and permanent improvements: Provided, That each entryman shall be entitled to a credit as residence upon his new homestead entry allowed hereunder of the time that he has actually lived upon the claim as a bona fide resident thereof.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 643 of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2792.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 644

Title 43Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73