Measure to add historic‑preservation and SITLA directors to public‑lands advisory board fails

Senator Kwan introduced SB53 to add two positions — the State Historic Preservation Officer and the SITLA director — to the Public Land Management Advisory Board. She told colleagues the additions would help ensure cultural‑resource considerations and historical preservation are represented when lands shift between federal and state oversight.

"The state historic preservation officer... does much of the cultural, anthropological work," Kwan said, arguing the officer and the SITLA director would provide useful expertise for board deliberations.

Senator Harper asked questions about the specific value the new positions would add; Kwan said the preservation officer helps ensure digs and site explorations comply with state guidelines and the SITLA director's office administers adjacent lands. The bill failed on third reading and was returned to staff for filing; the floor roll call recorded the bill did not receive sufficient affirmative votes to pass.