Committee sends House Bill 129 to amendment order after split testimony over extending land‑bank holding period

The Senate Resources & Environment Committee voted to send House Bill 129 to the 14th order for possible amendments after extensive testimony both supporting and opposing an extension of the land bank holding period from five to ten years.

Representative John Vander Ryder described the bill as a mechanism to give the state Land Board and Idaho Department of Lands more time to reinvest proceeds from sales of state property into endowment lands, rather than automatically transferring those proceeds into the permanent endowment fund after five years. “That money is placed in the land bank from sale of state property,” Vander Ryder said. “This bill would allow them an additional five years … to hang on to the money should something become available later.”

Supporters argued the extension would allow the Land Board to acquire more endowment lands that provide public access and steady revenue. Heather Eastman, executive director…