2026-01-23                     Senate Journal                      Page 1519
SB 224                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 224 BY THE SENATE 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.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Natural Resources                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 22:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
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.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2026-01-23                     Senate Journal                      Page 1520
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