Arizona State Representative Leo Biasiucci has introduced House Bill 2913, which proposes to replace the governor-appointed State Land Commissioner with 15 locally elected county land commissioners. The bill aims to transfer decision-making authority from a single official to local commissioners accountable to voters. The Arizona State Land Department is responsible for managing state trust lands, primarily benefiting K–12 public schools.
Biasiucci argues that decisions made by a single statewide official often fail to consider local needs. “We’ve seen massive wind turbines in Navajo and Apache counties, thousands of acres of solar farms in Pinal County, and valuable shoreline auctions in Mohave County,” he said. “Those decisions may or may not have been right—but they should not be made by a single, unelected bureaucrat in Maricopa County, disconnected from the rural communities these decisions impact.”
Under the proposed legislation, each county would have its own land commissioner making determinations about the “highest and best use” of state trust lands. For example, Mohave County’s land commissioner would make decisions for Mohave County lands.
“If we want to ensure decisions truly reflect highest and best use, they should be made by officials who understand local priorities and impacts,” Biasiucci said. He emphasized the importance of local accountability in these decisions.
The proposal comes as the State Land Department faces scrutiny during its sunset review before a legislative reauthorization scheduled for 2026. Recent audits and hearings have raised concerns about the department’s current operations.
Biasiucci highlighted that neither the Arizona Constitution nor the Enabling Act mandates that one individual must make these determinations. “The Legislature has full authority to decide who exercises this power,” he said.
Leo Biasiucci is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 30 and chairs the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. He was elected in 2023, succeeding Robert Meza. Follow him on X at @Leo4AzSenate.
