(JUNEAU) - House Bill 130, a bill granting certain state land to the University of Alaska and establishing the university research forest, passed out of the House Resources Committee on Friday afternoon.

The House Resource Committee adopted a committee substitute that exempted the following parcels of land saying they could not be conveyed to the University: Duke Island, Kelp Island, Lena Creek, Neets Creek, Kodiak Rocket Range, Port Alexander and Warm Springs Bay.

Representative Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Kodiak) views this new version of the bill as a result of a working committee process. She stated, "I am grateful to Resource Committee Co-Chairs Representative Jay Ramras (R-Fairbanks) and Representative Ralph Samuels (R-Anchorage) who took a lot of public testimony and correspondence concerning this legislation. They listened and made changes based on public input, this is how the system works."

Representative LeDoux appreciates everyone who has testified and took time off work to listen to the proceedings. "Because land is such an emotional issue - owning it, accessing it, and what happens to it from one generation to another - this is why the public process is so crucial," said Representative LeDoux.

A number of people from Kodiak called to oppose the Kodiak Rocket Range being included in this bill, this land parcel is not included in the version that passed the resources committee.

HB 130 now moves onto the House Finance Committee.

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