HB1163

House Bill 1163 amends Arkansas Code § 22-5-405, which governs how the Commissioner of State Lands issues deeds for lands that have emerged within lakes or rivers to adjacent riparian owners. The bill updates the application process by requiring applicants to submit an electronic application, a professional survey performed within the previous six months, and affidavits from three competent individuals verifying that the land has emerged to the high-water mark and is capable of cultivation. It removes the previous requirement that the Commissioner of State Lands direct a county surveyor or other designated surveyor to perform the work, instead placing the burden of obtaining and submitting the survey directly on the applicant. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commissioner of State Lands promulgate administrative rules to carry out these provisions. It sets a timeline for the initial adoption of these rules by January 1, 2024, subject to legislative oversight.