Bill Text: AZ SCR1018 | 2025 | Fifty-seventh Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Federal lands; supporting disposal
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-26 - Senate majority caucus: Do pass [SCR1018 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2025-SCR1018-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: federal lands; supporting disposal |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
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SCR 1018 |
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Introduced by Senator Finchem
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A Concurrent Resolution
supporting the disposal of federally held lands by the bureau of land management and opposing the federal 30x30 initiative.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Whereas, the federal government is the largest landowner in the United States, controlling almost one-third of the entire land in the country, over 90% of which is located in Western States; and
Whereas, once land is taken by the federal government, it is often squandered, locked away forever from economic production; and
Whereas, the State of Arizona is composed of 113,417 square miles of land, of which 42% is federally possessed, unappropriated and nontribal land that is unavailable for economic development and not part of the property tax base; and
Whereas, the United States Congress has provided various statutory authorities to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to dispose of federal lands through conveyance to another party. BLM may sell lands to or exchange lands with any party or may sell or lease land to states and other governmental agencies for various public purposes, such as to establish parks, schools and public works; and
Whereas, in 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14008 that establishes a national goal to acquire and conserve at least 30% of America's land and water resources by 2030, commonly referred to as the 30x30 initiative; and
Whereas, seeking to take 30% of all land in the United States, including land in Arizona, out of economic production is an abuse of power that will have sweeping impacts on Arizonans; and
Whereas, the governors of 15 states have expressed that the 30x30 initiative will harm local economies, reduce school funding and infringe on private property rights; and
Whereas, federal ownership of vast amounts of lands eliminates or restricts reasonable and thoughtful use of these natural resources for multiple purposes, such as recreation, grazing, mining, energy development and forestry. The great strength of Arizona lies in the value of its lands and the ability for the public to access those lands for a variety of uses; and
Whereas, the low percentage of private and state lands in the West already places these states at a significant economic disadvantage and restricts their ability to adequately provide for the future; and
Whereas, the federal government has done an exceedingly poor job of administering these resources as a result of decades of dysfunctional federal bureaucracy. The federal government has mismanaged public lands economically and ecologically, while handcuffing local control; and
Whereas, state stewardship of public lands is more efficient, thoughtful, accountable and locally driven, which improves public access, environmental health and economic productivity.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:
1. That the Members of the Legislature support the disposal of federally held unappropriated lands by the Bureau of Land Management, as it was originally instructed to do.
2. That the Members of the Legislature oppose the federal initiative, 30x30, which seeks to remove more land from state and private ownership.
