---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 644"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "644"
heading: "Preference right to entryman under State laws"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/644"
units:
  - "Chapter 14 — Grants of Desert Lands to States for Reclamation"
---

# §644. Preference right to entryman under State laws


The [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior, when restoring to the public domain lands that have been segregated to a [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) under sections [641](/usc/43/641.md), [642](/usc/43/642.md) and [643](/usc/43/643.md)[^1] 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](/usc/43/641.md) 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](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) laws providing for the administration of the grant under [section 641 of this title](/usc/43/641.md) 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.


## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Feb. 14, 1920, ch. 74, 41 Stat. 407.)

## Notes

### 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Section 643 of this title, referred to in text, was repealed by Pub.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.