Senate Panel Approves Oversight Reforms for Arizona State Land Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Republicans are advancing legislation today to increase oversight and restore accountability at the Arizona State Land Department, moving SB 1336 through the Senate Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee following years of audit findings and legislative concerns about the agency's performance. The bill passed with bipartisan support.
SB 1336, sponsored by Senator Tim Dunn, continues the State Land Department while establishing stronger transparency requirements and enforceable expectations to ensure Arizona's 9.2 million acres of state trust land are managed responsibly for the benefit of public schools and other trust beneficiaries.
Legislative hearings, audits, and independent reviews continue to raise concerns about delayed applications, inconsistent long-term planning, and internal processes that stall land use decisions, limit housing opportunities, and reduce potential revenue for Arizona classrooms. The legislation responds by requiring clear timelines for agency action, expanding legislative oversight, and creating a temporary oversight committee to monitor reforms and ensure measurable progress.
"Arizona's trust land exists to support our schools, not bureaucracy," said Senate President Warren Petersen. "Right now, projects sit in limbo, applications wait without answers, and opportunities to generate funding for education are being missed. SB 1336 sets clear expectations moving forward. Transparency, timelines, and accountability should be the standard when managing assets that belong to Arizona taxpayers and students."
"Families, ranchers, and businesses working on state trust land make long-term decisions based on whether permits and leases move forward in a reasonable timeframe," said Senator Dunn. "When decisions drag on indefinitely, it stalls investment and growth. This legislation puts structure around the process so people can plan, invest, and keep projects moving while still protecting the interests of Arizona schools. It also ensures the department follows through on the required five-year management plan so long-term commitments to trust beneficiaries are actually carried out."
The bill requires the department to establish enforceable timeframes for acting on applications and applies administrative accountability standards already required of other state agencies. It also creates a temporary oversight committee charged with reviewing rulemaking, monitoring compliance reforms, and reporting findings and recommendations to state leadership. Under the proposal, the State Land Department continues operations through July 1, 2030, allowing lawmakers to measure whether reforms are implemented and whether the agency is meeting its obligation to maximize returns for trust beneficiaries.
SB 1336 now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus