News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: April 4, 1997 Contact: Senator Lyda Green 907/465-6600

Senate Votes To Preserve Alaska’s Family Farms

JUNEAU -- The Alaska State Senate passed legislation Friday 16 to 4 to give farmers clear ownership of the land they farm and greater latitude in making their individual business decisions.

"I introduced SB 109 to facilitate freedom for the growth of Alaska agriculture," said bill sponsor Senator Lyda Green (R-Mat-Su). "Agriculture is a thirty million dollar annual renewable resource industry in Alaska that creates new wealth, provides jobs and feeds Alaskans."

"Our farmers deserve real ownership," said Senator Green. "This is land they have purchased and are working diligently to turn into a successful agricultural business. The current system leaves our farmers feeling like they are no more than tenants."

Green noted that this legislation will remove unnecessary regulations, allow farmers the option of private financing, promote more offering of agricultural land, allow a limited number of additional home sites on agricultural land and guarantee continued agricultural use of the land. The measure’s key provisions include:

• The State of Alaska will be taken off the title to the land. This will allow farmers the opportunity to finance their operations with private financing.
• Numerous regulations that allowed for bureaucratic micro-management of private farms by the state are repealed.
• Under current law, an original agricultural parcel can be subdivided into any number of parcels as long as they are no smaller than 40 acres. SB 109 would simply add the ability to provide home sites on four of those parcels. There would be no cost to the owner if the land is kept in the family. The state would receive a fee reflecting the home site value from the buyer if sold outside the family.
• Agricultural use would be protected by a perpetual covenant running with the land.

SB 109 is similar to legislation that passed last year with tremendous support in both the House and Senate. The bill was vetoed by the Governor and the veto was overridden in joint session. But this year, Judge Weeks of Juneau said the override vote came a day late and so was invalid.

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Broadcast note: Radio actualities are available from Lyda Green by calling 800-478-6545.