Dunleavy proposes bills to put Alaska land in Alaska hands

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s House Bill 195 and Senate Bill 133 were first heard in the Senate Resources Committee Wednesday.

Dunleavy’s bills advance his priority to “put Alaska land into Alaska hands” and would ease the process for private citizens to nominate land for lease or sale for recreational sites through the Department of Natural Resources.

“We support the governor’s efforts to broaden the base of private land ownership, and are excited to help him continue unlocking Alaska,” said DNR Commissioner Corri Feige. “While the state’s economy benefits from commercial resource development, this new legislation benefits individual Alaskans by expanding their opportunities to better enjoy our great outdoors by owning private recreational parcels.”

In Alaska, 222 million acres of land are controlled by the Federal Government with no programs to allow individual Alaskans to buy land. The Federal portion accounts for 62 percent of Alaskan land compared to just 25 percent controlled by the state. The state controls roughly 105 million acres and the ANCSA portion is another 44 million acres accounting for 12 percent. Dunleavy’s bills would permit eligible Alaskans to nominate up to 10 acres for the DNR to offer for sale or lease as remote recreational sites.

“The ability to own land is a core American value, which this plan supports by helping fulfil so many Alaskans’ dreams of owning a piece of the Last Frontier,” said Governor Dunleavy. “Alaska has vast amounts of land, but only three percent it is in private hands, less than in any other state. This bill is an important tool for removing burdensome obstacles and putting Alaska land into Alaska hands.”

For land to be leased or sold as a recreational site, residents must make a five percent down payment and cover the costs for surveying and appraisal. Residents who nominate parcels would then be required to pay fair market value and land leases could be extended or converted into sales contracts using long term state managed financing.