New state lands director outlines customer-service focus, new rules and emergency loan program

Stacia Berry, director of the Office of State Lands and Investments, told the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee on June 11 that she is leading the agency with "the 3 C's — customer service, communication and common sense." Berry, two months into the job, briefed members on staffing, digital services, forestry work and several rule packages the office is putting into effect after the 2025 legislative session.

Berry said the office manages roughly 3,900,000 mineral acres and 3,500,000 surface acres on behalf of state trust beneficiaries, primarily K–12 education. She described four agency divisions — trust land management, field services, administration and forestry — and reported the trust land program oversees 4,073 grazing leases statewide, with 465 leases up for renewal in 2025. "So far, we've only had one individual not renew their lease," she said.

Berry highlighted recent and upcoming rule activity.…