An Act providing for an annual land lottery.

Posted: March 8, 2000
Contact: Representative Norman Rokeberg's office at (800) 773-4968

House Bill 393 provides that at least 25,000 acres of land, in parcels of at least five and not more than 80 acres, be offered to Alaskan citizens by annual land lottery. Additionally, an information pamphlet is to be published at least 45 days before the date of the lottery. The pamphlet will describe each parcel offered under the lottery and will include information about the parcel, transportation and available utilities. There would be no obligation of any local government to provide services to these parcels and a school would only be provided when at least 20 students reside in the area to be served.

The amount of land held by the State, including trust lands, currently stands at about 86.5 million acres of that. After removal of mental health trust lands, those lands not selected by municipalities, that amount falls to about 75 million acres. After deduction of other state designated land (parks, oil and gas, etc.), about 3 million acres of land are classified as settlement or agriculture and could be disposed of via lottery.

Disposal of land has always been of high concern because such disposal offers Alaskans opportunities for recreation, new lifestyle, and potential development of the area opened. With expanding development in Alaska comes an economic upswing in the area settled. The Division of Land from FY 95 through FY 99 has disposed of from 11,846 acres (FY 95) to 2,213 acres (FY 99) through the various land disposal sales.

HB 393 would mandate that almost ten times the amount of recent disposals be accomplished. Lands in the hands of the people would pay any local taxes (state land does not generate revenue to local government), offer an opportunity for Alaskans to own property, and increase economic development in the state. I would urge your support of this legislation.

Sectional Analysis for HB 393