Increasing the private Alaskan ownership of land is a priority of Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who introduced Senate Bill 105 (SB 105), allowing eligible residents to more easily purchase or lease state land for recreational cabin use.
The bill will be the subject of a hearing in Senate Resources on Monday, March 17 at 3:30 pm, with both invited and public testimony. Legislative hearings in this committee have been scheduled and canceled twice so far.
SB 105 refines the existing remote cabin sites program by updating eligibility requirements and establishing clear processes for nominating and staking cabin sites. Under the proposed legislation, eligible applicants may nominate up to 10 acres of available state land for a cabin site if the land is not already included in the state’s schedule of land offerings.
To complete a purchase, applicants must conduct a survey and appraisal of the selected site and pay its fair market value. This ensures land sales are fair, while allowing Alaskans to directly engage in the selection process of their recreational sites.
“Alaskans currently own about one percent of state land, and after 60 years of statehood, we need to change that,” said Dunleavy. The bill promotes settlement, fostering economic growth, and reflects the principle that private land ownership is fundamental to personal freedom and prosperity.
Gov. Dunleavy’s bill aligns with his broader vision of empowering Alaskans to have greater access to the state’s natural resources. If passed, the bill may streamline the process for obtaining remote cabin sites and make land acquisition more accessible to residents across the state.
