Griffin Expresses Concerns over Land Applicant Rights

PHOENIX – The Arizona Legislature’s Joint Legislative Committee of Reference has moved this week to limit the Arizona State Land Department’s continuation period. While the period is typically an 8-year continuation, they approved a 4-year renewal, subject to substantial administrative reforms.

According to materials released by House Republican leadership, the Joint Legislative Committee of Reference opted not to grant the department the customary eight-year renewal period. Instead, the committee approved a four-year continuation, with the expectation that the department implement a series of administrative and policy changes before returning to the Legislature for further review.

The State Land Department is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2026, the condition that triggered the review process. Committee materials indicate that lawmakers considered information from the State Auditor General, agency leadership, and representatives of industries dependent on access to state trust land.

In outlining its decision, the committee pointed to “unresolved issues” identified in prior audits, as well as concerns raised by stakeholders about delays in application processing and the lack of predictable planning. Industry groups relying on state trust land for housing, agriculture, mining, and energy development warned that uncertainty in the department’s processes is hindering economic activity tied to trust lands that support public beneficiaries, including the K-12 education system.

Legislative findings that spurred the continuation decision highlighted the department’s failure to meet several existing legal requirements. These include the absence of authorization timelines required under state administrative law and the lack of five-year land disposition plans intended to guide land use decisions. Lawmakers concluded that these gaps complicate oversight and weaken confidence in the management of trust assets.

Representative Gail Griffin, who co-chairs the Joint Committee of Reference and leads the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, was quoted in a statement released by House Republicans that planning requirements, licensing timelines, and formal procedures are central to protecting the interests of trust beneficiaries. Other lawmakers echoed concerns about applicants’ rights and questioned internal practices regarding applications placed in extended absence.

As part of the continuation package, the committee instructed the department to adopt all recommendations issued by the Auditor General. It continued to outline additional areas for investigation, including vacant land near urban areas and certain leasing and sales practices. The department is expected to return to the Legislature within two years with a progress report detailing corrective actions taken.

The four-year extension of the department’s authority through July 1, 2030, made clear that future renewal will depend on demonstrable improvement.