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House advances trust‑lands package aimed at strengthening fiduciary duty to school beneficiaries
Summary
Lawmakers advanced a three‑bill package (HB46, HB47, substitute HB48) intended to align State Land Board duties with the Constitution and Enabling Act by statutorily prioritizing trustees’ loyalty to school beneficiaries; bills passed the House and were sent to the Senate after floor debate over environmental and planning concerns.
The House moved forward a package of bills on Feb. 5 intended to tighten statutory direction for management of school and institutional trust lands and to change how land‑generated revenues are handled for maintenance.
Representative Mel R. Brown, sponsor of the package, told members HB46 would amend statute to require the State Land Board to administer trust lands “in a prudent man prudent manner with undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries” and make the beneficiaries’ interest paramount. “We feel like this will go a long way in addressing this effort and redirecting the efforts of the board,” Brown said.
HB47 removes interest earnings from the revenue base used to fund the land‑grant maintenance account, continuing a 20 percent allocation of sale and lease revenues but excluding interest so as to preserve trust principal. Brown said the change aligns statutory practice with constitutional responsibilities and could require the division to seek general‑fund support for some functions.
The third bill, substitute HB48, contains similar language intended to ensure consistent direction across agencies that manage school trust lands. On the floor Representative Jones urged circlement or a time certain so proponents and interested parties could prepare amendments and coordinate with a related Senate bill on archaeological and preservation issues; Representative Anderson also asked for consideration of a related Senate preservation bill that might affect HB48. Representative Brown defended advancing the package, saying the task force drafting the bills had addressed planning and study concerns and he urged passage as a message of commitment to beneficiaries.
Votes: HB46 passed 59–0, HB47 passed 68–2 (with 2 absent), and substitute HB48 passed 55–15. The bills were forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
What’s next: The measures go to the Senate; sponsors and opponents flagged environmental‑study and planning issues to watch in committee and potential rule updates or implementing guidance.
