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State Trust Lands
State Trust Lands Part 1: The Trust Model
States were granted trust lands by the U.S. Congress to generate revenue to fund public institutions, primarily public schools.
State Trust Lands Part 2: Permanent Funds
Overspending of state trust permanent funds reduces future school funding and incentivizes sales of trust land and nonrenewable resources.
State Trust Lands Part 3: New Demands
Changing economies, new land uses, shifting social values, and political pressure create challenges for state trust land managers.
State Trust Lands Part 4: Implications for Federal Land Transfer
Advocates of transferring federal land to states point to the superior ability of state trust lands to generate revenue, but our analysis finds significant economic and fiscal disadvantages.