Session: State Capitol, Room 423 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4940 Fax: (907) 465-3766 Interim: 716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 450 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0106 Fax: (907) 269-0109 145 Main Steet Loop Kenai, AK 99611 Phone: (907) 283-7996 Fax: (907) 283-3075

Sponsor Statement for SB 330
Auction of State Land

"An Act relating to the sale of state land at auction; and providing for an effective date."

Senate Bill 330 is a land bill. This legislation calls attention to the fact that the state government owns 106 million acres of land in our state. This is more land than the total of all land in California. The Federal Government and Native Corporations also have large land holdings that are separate and distinct from the state owned lands. Less than one percent, 1 million acres, of our state owned land is in private ownership. The King Ranch in Texas is over 1 million acres, more than all the privately own land in the whole state Alaska.

There are many benefits to our state by putting more land into private ownership. The sale of land can supply homes to Alaskans as well as generate revenue and jobs for Alaska. Placing more land into private ownership will stimulate economic activity of many types, can open up new country for settlement and will eliminate the need for new state taxes on our working families.

SB 330 directs the Commissioner of Natural Resources to offer 1 million acres of land for sale. There will be 100 thousand acres of land for sale at auction every 60 days until 1 million acres, or one percent, the land owned by the state has been offered for sale. Parcels offered must be at least 40 acres but not more than 1,000 acres is size and will not require a survey.

Selling 1% of our state owned lands to the people will help to satisfy the desperate need for access and opportunity. Current state land policies frustrate Alaskan families and limit economic development. Alaskans need more land in private hands to make a future for our children and stimulate economic growth that will create new jobs. Opening even one percent of our state lands can help achieve these goals.

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