ID SCR107

Legislature encourages the State Board of Land Commissioners to exercise authority in entering land exchanges, including multiparty exchanges, when in the state's best interest.

Land exchanges are authorized under Section 8, Article IX of the Idaho Constitution and Section 58-138, Idaho Code for equal value exchanges with the United States, local governments, corporations, individuals, or combinations thereof.

Constitutional limitations restrict sales to no more than 100 sections of state lands per year and 320 acres to any single individual, company, or corporation, and land exchanges provide an alternative to circumvent these restrictions.

Legislature finds that current sales limitations are harming state endowment interests and that multiparty land exchanges offer the state greater flexibility than two-way exchanges.

Legislature supports exploring the creation of a dedicated division within the Idaho Department of Lands to focus on all land exchange efforts, including multiparty exchanges.