2026-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 1481
HB 276                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 276 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to state land; relating to contracts for the sale and                                                     
     lease of state land; relating to commercial development parks; and                                                         
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     

2026-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 1482
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1. Fiscal, Dept. of Natural Resources                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 22 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill establishing commercial                                                                  
development parks. This bill enables the Department of Natural                                                                  
Resources to complete the required public notice and best-interest                                                              
finding at the time a park is designated and then allows leasing or sale                                                        
of land within the park for commercial use without repeating that                                                               
process for each individual transaction.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Alaska’s private-sector growth is often slowed by delay and                                                                     
uncertainty in land availability. This bill ensures public notice and a                                                         
best interest finding occur at the outset, creating clarity for Alaskans                                                        
and predictable timelines for responsible development.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
In addition, this bill is intended to facilitate commercial development                                                         
of state land by authorizing novel and innovative compensation                                                                  
structures for sales and leasing in commercial development parks.                                                               
Finally, this bill includes several amendments to existing general                                                              
leasing statutes intended to streamline and update existing procedures                                                          
for the leasing of public land.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"