Land commissioner

A land commissioner or natural resources commissioner is a public official in the executive branch of a state or territory in the United States. While the duties of the position may vary, their general role is maintaining, protecting, and regulating public lands and natural resources; including state parks, forests, and recreation areas.[1] Every state except Wyoming has a natural resources commissioner.[2]

Five states – Arkansas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington – elect land commissioners in partisan elections, with Arkansas, South Dakota, and New Mexico additionally dividing the duties between a partisan elected office and a nonpartisan appointed office. In all other states, the position is nonpartisan and appointed, usually by the governor.[1]

The National Association of State Trust Lands is a nonprofit consortium of state land commissioners.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Natural Resources Commissioner (state executive office)". Ballotpedia. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  2. ^ Hult, Karen M. (2020-03-01). "8 Sex, Gender, and Leadership in the Executive Branch". Madam President?. Lynne Rienner Publishers. pp. 141–166. doi:10.1515/9781685850982-010. ISBN 978-1-68585-098-2. Every state except Wyoming has a natural resources commissioner, but only 4 states hold elections for these positions.
  3. ^ Brown, Alex (2023-10-26). "Western states look to these lands for new affordable housing • Stateline". Stateline. Retrieved 2024-10-02.