Hassan considers bill to limit federal lands

This year the legislature passed SB 324, a bill that strictly limits federal landholding to 2% of New Hampshire's land area, excluding the original boundaries of the White Mountain National Forest.  The bill also requires the Governor and Executive Council to approve any federal land acquisition.

"We don’t want to become Nevada East," said Rep. James McConnell, who supports the bill. "We don’t want to become a state that is largely owned by the federal government."

Other bill supporters argue that federal land acquisition burdens local taxpayers, since federal property is removed from tax rolls.

A spokesman for Gov. Hassan said she is unlikely to sign the bill, however, due to concern over private property rights.  The Attorney General's office testified that the bill may unconstitutionally restrict private property owners' right to sell their land.

Other opponents argue that restricting federal land acquisition will deprive the state of federal funds to preserve farmland.

Do you support restricting federal land acquisition in New Hampshire?  Let us know in the comments.