Question #2 is on the ballot this year with overwhelming bipartisan support to address a real problem associated with the sale, swap and transfer of state-owned public lands.

The problem is not that the General Assembly has the authority to sell, swap and give away valuable state-owned public lands (this is done each year through a so-called public lands conveyance bill, SB 502 this year). The problem is that valuable public lands are being conveyed out of public ownership without receiving the benefit of any public input or meaningful debate. This is done by adding new public lands to the conveyance bill in the waning hours of a legislative session, with no public scrutiny.