SCHOOL LAND BOARD APPROVAL OF PATENT FOR INTEREST IN LAND RELEASED BY STATE

(a) The School Land Board may approve a tract of land for patenting to release all or part of the state's interest in land, excluding mineral rights, if the board: (1) finds that: (A) the land is surveyed, unsold, permanent school fund land according to the records of the land office; (B) the land is not patentable under the law in effect before January 1, 2002; and (C) the person claiming title to the land: (i) holds the land under color of title; (ii) holds the land under a chain of title that originated on or before January 1, 1952; (iii) acquired the land without actual knowledge that title to the land was vested in the State of Texas; (iv) has a deed to the land recorded in the appropriate county; and (v) has paid all taxes assessed on the land and any interest and penalties associated with any period of tax delinquency; and (2) unanimously approves the release of the state's interest. (b) This section does not apply to: (1) beach land, submerged or filled land, or islands; or (2) land that has been determined to be state-owned by judicial decree. (c) This section may not be used to: (1) resolve boundary disputes; or (2) change the mineral reservation in an existing patent.