Senator Bjorkman urges safeguards on timber leases; Senate sets SB75 aside

Senator Jesse Bjorkman told the Senate Resources Committee on Jan. 23 that Senate Bill 75, a governor‑sponsored measure on timber management leases, needs clearer safeguards to preserve public access and support active forest management.

"They are an ability for the state to hold land in the public trust and allow access to continue while also reducing fire fuels on the landscape," Bjorkman said, arguing the statute should not be treated as a park‑style lockup that restricts recreation and hunting. He urged alignment with protections in the Forest Resources and Practices Act and called for explicit public‑access guarantees on trust lands.

Bjorkman, whose district includes the Kenai Peninsula, said recent outreach around a state forest rollout on the peninsula showed confusion among residents about what a "state forest" would mean for access and timber activity. He recommended the Department of Natural Resources and the legislature clarify expectations so that active management—thinning, roads and other measures—can reduce wildfire risk and invasive insect damage without permitting landscape devastation.

After Bjorkman's testimony, Chair Senator Giesel said the committee would set SB75 aside to allow further consideration and follow‑up. No motion or vote on the substance of the bill was taken during the hearing.

The committee heard the one invited testimony and did not schedule a final action; members may submit follow‑up questions or requests for staff analysis.

Next steps: Senator Giesel said members would have an opportunity to ask additional questions of Bjorkman and staff will track related materials; the bill remains pending and was set aside for further review.