2024-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 1393
SB 199                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 199 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to access roads; relating to state                                                                   
          land; relating to contracts for the sale of state land;                                                               
          relating to the authority of the Department of                                                                        
          Education and Early Development to dispose of state                                                                   
          land; relating to the authority of the Department of                                                                  
          Transportation and Public Facilities to dispose of                                                                    
          state land; relating to the authority of the Department                                                               
          of Natural Resources over certain state land; relating                                                                
          to the state land disposal income fund; relating to the                                                               
          sale and lease of state land; relating to covenants and                                                               
          restrictions on agricultural land; and providing for an                                                               
          effective date."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Transportation, Resources                                                           
and Finance Committees.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
     Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Natural Resources                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 18:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to disposal of state land.                                                      
This bill provides authority for the Department of Transportation and                                                           
Public Facilities and the Department of Education and Early                                                                     
Development to dispose of state land. The bill further increases the cap                                                        
on the land disposal income fund and updates and improves provisions                                                            
relating to the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) surface land                                                             
disposal procedures.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The bill clarifies the state land sale bidding process by requiring an                                                          
earnest money deposit and granting the State greater discretion                                                                 
regarding the construction of access roads related to state land sales.                                                         
The bill also provides DNR discretion whether to require a survey                                                               
prior to the issuance of a long-term lease.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                

2024-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 1394
Finally, the bill amends the Alaska Land Act. The bill broadens the                                                             
terms for sales contracts for land sold by public auction or sealed bid                                                         
and clarifies that DNR may terminate a sales contract without recourse                                                          
to a foreclosure lawsuit in appropriate circumstances. The bill further                                                         
provides for leasing and sale of parcels of state land for commercial                                                           
development, as well as relaxes restrictions on land conveyed for                                                               
agricultural purposes.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
In order to make the best use of our state land for all citizens, I urge                                                        
your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor