Assigned to FED AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1150
state land; exchanges
Purpose
Conditional on the voter approval of S.C.R. 1006, requires the exchange transaction of
state lands for other lands, rather than only public lands, to be approved by the Legislature and the
Governor, rather than qualified electors of Arizona by referendum.
Background
The Legislature must provide a process by law for exchanging lands granted or confirmed
by the Enabling Act for public lands in Arizona. The purpose of the exchange must be either to
assist in preserving and protecting military facilities in Arizona from encroaching development, or
to improve the management of state lands for the purpose of sale, lease or conversion to public use
of state lands (Ariz. Const. art. 10 § 12).
State land may be exchanged for public land in Arizona to improve the management of
state lands for the purpose of sale, lease or conversion to public use of state lands or to assist in
preserving and protecting military facilities in Arizona. Exchanges may be made for land owned
or administered by other state agencies, counties, municipalities or the United States or its
agencies. Each exchange transaction must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
qualified electors of Arizona by referendum at the next general election. The Arizona State Land
Department (ASLD) must adopt rules governing the application and procedure for the exchange
of state lands. Upon determining that an application is complete and that the proposed exchange
would benefit the applicable trust, the ASLD must notify and deliver a report containing details of
the proposed exchange to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the state legislators from the legislative districts in which the lands proposed to be exchanged
are located. The ASLD Commissioner must determine, by at least two independent appraisals, that
the state lands being considered for exchange are of substantially equal value or of lesser value
than the land offered by the applicant. All state lands offered for trade must be located in the same
county as the lands offered to the state. Prior to public notice of a proposed exchange of state lands
for other lands, the ASLD must a give thirty-day notice in writing to other interested public entities
including state agencies, counties, municipalities, the military affairs commission and outlined
leaseholders on state lands. Within 60 days after the conclusion of the last hearing, the ASLD
Commissioner must determine and issue a written finding recommending that the exchange be
denied or approved and must transmit the finding to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of State (A.R.S. § 37-604).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1150
Page 2
Provisions
1. Allows state land to be exchanged for any other land in Arizona, rather than only public land
in Arizona.
2. Requires the exchange transaction of state lands for other lands to be approved by the
Legislature with an affirmative vote on a joint resolution and the signature of the Governor,
rather than qualified electors of Arizona in the form of a prescribed referendum.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Conditions the enactment of this legislation on the enactment of S.C.R. 1006, Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, First Regular Session, by a vote of the people at the next general election.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date or later, subject to the provisions of the
conditional enactment.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Requires the land exchange to be approved by the Legislature in addition to the Governor.\
2. Inserts S.C.R. 1006 to the blank space provided for that purpose.
Senate Action
FED 2/17/25 DPA 4-2-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 20, 2025
AN/DL/slp