UPDATE: Senator Finchem Intervention Halts Badger Mountain Land Auction

He also calls for broader reforms, enhancing transparency and oversight of the ASLD

Prescott residents can breathe a sigh of relief: the Arizona State Land Department has officially canceled the April 2, 2026 auction of more than 600 acres on the western flank of iconic Badger “P” Mountain.

The near-miss began years ago when local activist Howard Mechanic, through his Social Justice Charitable Foundation, applied to the State Land Department to purchase the trust land. What started as a request for an easement tied to his adjacent property quickly ballooned into a full-blown application for the entire 609-acre parcel. Mechanic later admitted he hoped to strike a deal with the City of Prescott to “preserve” portions of the mountain, conveniently advancing his own nearby development interests in the process.

Senator Mark Finchem’s Intervention

In a strongly worded letter dated March 11, 2026, Arizona State Senator Mark Finchem voiced his opposition to the upcoming auction, urging Commissioner Robyn Sahid of the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) to suspend the sale and open an extended public comment period. Click Here to read his full statement.

Finchem also complained about the short 30-day protest window under A.R.S. § 37-301, which ended on February 8, 2026, leaving many residents feeling sidelined. Finchem wrote:

“I am asking that you suspend this sale, and a public comment period be opened for an extended period of time to give those who will be most affected by the sale, and subsequent development to provide invaluable feedback,”

Senator Finchem’s Official Announcement of the Auction Cancellation

On March 27, 2026, Finchem issued his official statement on the successful cancellation of the Badger Mountain auction, posting it on his website (Click Here) and sharing the update on X.

Finchem also advocates for broader reforms, referencing SB 1336, a bill going through the 2026 legislative process, including requirements for conceptual land use plans to allow greater public input.

What SB 1336 Will Mean Going Forward

SB 1336 continues the State Land Department until July 1, 2030, while creating a new State Land Oversight Board to provide independent oversight of the department’s operations, rulemaking, timelines, and compliance. The bill adds stronger requirements for timely lease renewals, fair reimbursement for improvements, due process protections for applicants and lessees, licensing time frames, and improved transparency in managing Arizona’s state trust lands.

It also updates land use and disposition planning processes and subjects the department more fully to the Administrative Procedures Act. Legislative findings cite past revenue losses and poor processes, with the goal of ensuring more accountable and efficient management of trust lands for public beneficiaries.

No matter where you live in Arizona, getting SB 1336 passed and signed into law is critical to reforming the State Land Department, increasing transparency and accountability, and ensuring our state trust lands are managed responsibly for the benefit of public beneficiaries. To learn more about where SB 1336 is in the legislative process, Click Here.

In conclusion, thanks in large part to Finchem’s letter and community pressure, the immediate auction for Badger Mountain is gone and stays in its current state for now. But because it’s trust land, it could potentially be re-listed for auction in the future unless further protections, like SB 1336, are put in place.

Contact your state representatives today and urge them to support SB 1336. You can find your legislator by Clicking Here.