State Trust Lands Conservation & Recreation Work Group

The state board of land commissioners (state board) serves as the trustee for lands granted to the state in public trust for the support of public schools (state trust lands). The state board is responsible for the management and protection of the state trust lands, including by protecting and enhancing the natural features, open space, and wildlife habitat of the state trust lands.

The act requires various appointing authorities to appoint members to a state trust lands conservation and recreation work group (work group) to study opportunities to advance conservation and recreation activities on state trust lands as part of the state board's long-term stewardship of the state trust lands while maintaining the state board's fiduciary responsibilities regarding its management of the state trust lands. On or before September 1, 2026, the work group is required to make recommendations to the state board, the governor, the committees of the general assembly with jurisdiction over natural resources matters, and the executive director of the department of natural resources (department) based on the study.

On or before February 15, 2027, the state board must take into consideration the work group's recommendations and adopt an administrative policy or rules to establish:

• A process governing the implementation of conservation leases and related instruments on state trust lands;
• A process to substantiate how the state board balances revenue generation with conserving the long-term value of state trust lands;
• A schedule to review and update by December 2028, if necessary, all existing stewardship trust management plans or other applicable plans; and
• Any other policies or rules the state board deems necessary to implement section 10 of article IX of the state constitution.

For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $393,506 from the state land board trust administration fund to the department for use by the state board.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)