SB 139 Alaska Senate · 34th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relating to who may own or hold certain land; relating to certain agreements having to do with critical infrastructure; and providing for an effective date.

SB 139 restricts certain nonresident persons from purchasing, leasing, or acquiring land within 100 miles of military installations in Alaska. It prohibits foreign-owned entities or nonresident individuals (with exceptions for residential leases and U.S. citizens from designated "foreign adversary" countries) from holding such land, with violations leading to state forfeiture of the property. The bill establishes a process where the attorney general can pursue forfeiture through court action, sell the land, and deposit proceeds into the state general fund. Existing mortgages and prior ownership rights remain unaffected by this law.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 19, 2025 Last action Apr 14, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB 139 → SSSB 139 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from SB 139 to SSSB 139 (Sponsor Substitute) and the introduction date was updated from March 19 to April 2, 2025. The most significant change is the replacement of a list of specific countries (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia) with a reference to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce's designation of foreign adversaries under federal law, expanding the bill's applicability to any country designated by the federal government. Additionally, new provisions were added regarding the sale of forfeited land and the protection of bona fide mortgage interests.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened by removing specific country names and replacing them with a dynamic federal designation standard, allowing the restrictions to apply to any country the U.S. Secretary of Commerce designates as a foreign adversary.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of prohibited countries was replaced with a reference to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce's designation of foreign adversaries under 15 C.F.R. 791.4, making the restrictions dependent on federal designations rather than a fixed list.

ENFORCEMENT

New procedures were added for selling forfeited land through the Department of Natural Resources, including provisions for lienholders to bid on the property and directing proceeds to the general fund.

REQUIREMENT

A new provision was added stating that a forfeiture under this section does not void bona fide mortgages, liens, or other interests granted by or through the person from whom the land was forfeited.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was changed from 'SB 139' to 'SSSB 139' to reflect it as a Sponsor Substitute, and the introduction date was updated from 3/19/25 to 4/2/25.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

(S) REFERRED TO RESOURCES

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

(S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors