(a) The Commissioner of State Lands is charged with the duty of making inquiry and of reporting to the Governor all failures of any railroad company to make application and accept conveyance within the time specified in § 23-11-502. He or she shall report all failures with a list of the lands forfeited by the nonapplication.
(b) Upon receipt of the report, the Governor shall make proclamation that the lands have been forfeited and are subject to sale by the state.