House committee backs bill to sell landlocked state trust parcels, debate focuses on fiscal trade-offs

House Bill 676, which would change how the state handles water-court duties and require sale of certain landlocked state trust parcels to lessees, advanced from the House Appropriations Committee on a 12-11 roll-call vote after more than two hours of testimony and questioning.

The bill’s sponsor, Brandon Leer, told the panel the measure would rework aspects of the state water court and clarify procedures for the Land Board to sell landlocked trust parcels that have private water leases. He said the measure’s fiscal implications were the central subject for the committee.

Supporters including Jocelyn Cahill of the Senior Ag Water Rights Alliance argued the fiscal note omitted significant potential revenue from parcel sales. Cahill said the state has about 5,000,000 acres of trust land and that, based on past Department of State Lands valuations, selling a portion of landlocked parcels could generate hundreds of millions of dollars one-time and ongoing property‑tax revenue thereafter.

Opponents raised legal, fiscal and technical concerns. Clayton Elliott of Charter Unlimited…