The proposed bill would update current statutes by introducing new requirements for escrow agents to notify the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House when private real property is sold or transferred to the federal government or a federal agency. It also mandates the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) to maintain a catalog of all existing or new covered federal designations in Arizona, expanding the scope beyond just national monuments. The bill enhances the information that the ASLD must request from the federal government regarding protected items, landscapes, and ecosystems, and allows the ASLD to notify legislative leaders if a parcel comprising a covered federal designation is not confined to the smallest area necessary. Additionally, the bill defines "covered federal designation" to include various federal land designations such as national parks and wildlife refuges, and it designates the legislation as the "Tax Base Protection Act." It replaces the term “national monument” with the broader term “covered federal designation,” and introduces findings that emphasize Arizona's historical claims to land and the implications of federal land retention on the state's tax base. The chapter heading of title 37, chapter 4, is also updated to reflect a broader scope of government entities involved in land acquisition, ultimately aiming to enhance legislative oversight and protect Arizona's interests regarding federal land management.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-485, 37-620.02
Senate Engrossed Version: 37-620.03