SB85
To Preserve Public Property; And To Preserve Timber At The Pine Tree Research Station.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
Senate Bill 85 prohibits the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas from commercially harvesting timber at the Pine Tree Research Station located in St. Francis County, Arkansas. The bill allows the Board to continue managing timber on the property strictly for wildlife management purposes. Furthermore, the bill mandates that any contract initiated by the Board or other state entities to manage timber for wildlife purposes, including activities like logging or harvesting, must be submitted to the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development for prior review. This legislation serves to restrict commercial timber extraction on the specified state-owned research property.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries include local environmental and conservation advocates who support the preservation of the Pine Tree Research Station's forest ecosystem, as well as wildlife populations that rely on the habitat for survival. Additionally, legislative committees and the public benefit from increased oversight regarding how public research lands are managed.
Who Might Suffer?
The University of Arkansas may be negatively impacted by the loss of potential revenue generated from the commercial sale of timber harvested on the research station property. Additionally, any contractors or timber industry entities that might have sought to bid on or perform commercial logging operations on this land would be restricted from doing so.
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