Committee adopts broad amendment to state trust land oversight bill, advances SB 13-36

Summary

Senate Bill 13-36, continuing oversight of the State Land Department and directing biosolids and disposition planning, was amended to change committee appointments, set shorter holdover limits, require notices and five-year plans; the committee adopted the 16-page Dunn amendment after debate over membership composition and transparency, and advanced the bill.

Senate Bill 13-36, presented Feb. 16, continues the Arizona State Land Department’s temporary oversight committee, requires reporting on biosolids application policies and directs the department to produce conceptual land-use and five-year disposition plans.

A substantial 16-page amendment in Senator Dunn’s name modified committee membership and appointment authorities, limited lease/permit holdovers to 90 days (to the extent possible), required notice at least six months before lease expiration and directed the oversight committee to recommend process improvements and timelines. Senators questioned narrowing committee seats to applicants who had been successful under existing leasing processes and excluding minority-leader appointees modeled after WIFA; the sponsor said the amendment sought people with practical, stake-in-the-process experience and pledged continued stakeholder work.

Industry groups representing mining, aggregates and agriculture testified in support, citing predictability and improved planning. After a divided roll-call on the amendment the committee adopted it and then voted to give SB 13-36 as amended a do-pass recommendation to the full Senate.