HB2376

THE CONTEXT: Statute reflects the constitutional authority for Arizona to consent to the acquisition of privately owned real property in Arizona by the federal government only through the joint resolution process. The joint resolution must state the legal description of the land and purposes for which it will be used ( A.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would state that the express, affirmative consent of the Governor and Legislature is required for the sale, gift, grant or other transfer of ownership of private property to a federal agency if that transfer would remove the property from state, county and municipal property tax rolls, specifies that any transfer requires the express, affirmative consent through the current joint resolution process, and specifies that the legislative consent requirement does not: a) limit the rights of any Indian tribe with respect to its lands, reservations and lands acquired as a settlement of land claim; or b) affect any Congressionally approved land exchange.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to put public resources toward the named state purpose through an accountable appropriation. It would state that the express, affirmative consent of the Governor and Legislature is required for the sale, gift, grant or other transfer of ownership of private property to a federal agency if that transfer would remove the property from state, county and municipal property tax rolls, and would also specifies that any transfer requires the express, affirmative consent through the current joint resolution process, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.