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Senate committee backs bill to require county notice, zoning compliance and disclosure for state land commercial leases
Summary
A Senate Resources and Environment committee hearing introduced RS32230, which would require the state to notify county commissioners when state land is leased for commercial use, require compliance with county planning and zoning ordinances, and make revenues from such leases subject to public disclosure.
Sen. Van Burton Shaw introduced RS32230 to the Senate Resources and Environment Committee, saying the proposal would add three requirements to existing law for commercial leases of state land: notice to county commissioners, compliance with county planning and zoning ordinances, and public disclosure of revenues generated from those leases.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Van Burton Shaw, said, “The state board shall provide notice to the county commissioners when an agreement is executed involving state land in their respective communities.” He told the committee the change responds to incidents where state-leased commercial uses — for example, a leased parcel where an on-site septic system was installed without county approval — created problems for nearby residents and local governments.
A second change in the draft bill would require that “all leases, permits and other types of land use authorizations for commercial purposes will now include a provision that requires compliance by the signatory with applicable county and planning and zoning ordinances,” Shaw said. He added that the measure would make revenues from such agreements available to public records requests: “All revenues generated from this agreement for commercial purposes are not exempt from public disclosure.”
Committee members offered no extended debate. A motion to introduce RS32230 was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded on the transcript.
If enacted, the bill would not itself resolve any individual zoning disputes; rather, it would create procedural and transparency requirements the sponsor said are intended to give counties advance notice and ensure commercial lessees meet local ordinance requirements.
The committee did not take a final floor vote on the measure during the hearing; the motion on the record was to introduce the request so it can be printed and considered in the legislative process.
