The bill amends existing laws regarding mineral, timber, and other resources on state lands in Arkansas. It reduces the membership of the Natural Resources Committee by replacing certain positions and allowing designees to represent members. Specifically, the bill replaces the Director of Production and Conservation of the Oil and Gas Commission and the State Geologist with the Secretary of the Department of Energy and Environment and their designee. Additionally, it allows for the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, the Commissioner of State Lands, the Executive Secretary of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, the Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and the Chair of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission to appoint designees to attend meetings.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the notification process for leases and permits related to state lands. It removes the requirement to notify the Office of the State Geologist, the Oil and Gas Commission, and the Division of Environmental Quality, while adding the Department of Energy and Environment to the list of agencies that must be notified when an application for a lease or permit is filed. This streamlining aims to improve the efficiency of the process while ensuring that relevant agencies are still informed.

Statutes affected:
SB 368: 22-5-804(a), 22-5-807(a)
Act 445: 22-5-804(a), 22-5-807(a)