(a) Whenever the state or any agency thereof possesses or controls real property not needed for public use, or whenever the public interest may be furthered, the state or its agency may sell, exchange, convey or lease for any period not exceeding 99 years all or any part of its interest in the property to or with the state or any political subdivision of the state or the United States or any agency thereof or private individual or corporation. Except where the state is exchanging real property, the consideration for the transfer or lease may be cash or real property, or both.
(b) The state or any agency thereof shall offer for sale any real property in its possession or control if the property:
(A) Is within the urban growth boundary of any city, is within an urban reserve, is within a rural community, or is within an urban unincorporated community;
(B) Is not being used for public purposes; and
(C) Is not needed for public use within five years of the last date the property was used for public purposes.
(c) Paragraph (b) of this subsection does not apply to the Department of Transportation or to the Department of State Lands.
(d) Nothing in this subsection limits the authority of the state to relinquish title to property pursuant to ORS 458.445.
(2) If the ownership, right or title of the state to any real property set apart by deed, will or otherwise for a burial ground or cemetery, or for the purpose of interring the remains of deceased persons, is limited or qualified or the use of such real property is restricted, whether by dedication or otherwise, the state or its agency may, after first declaring by resolution that such real property is not needed for public use, or that the sale, exchange, conveyance or lease thereof will further the public interest, file a complaint in the circuit court for the county in which such real property is located against all persons claiming any right, title or interest in such real property, whether the interest be contingent, conditional or otherwise, for authority to sell, exchange, convey or lease all or any part of such real property. The resolution is prima facie evidence that such real property is not needed for public use, or that the sale, exchange, conveyance or lease will further the public interest. The action shall be commenced and prosecuted to final determination in the same manner as an action not triable by right to a jury. The complaint shall contain a description of such real property, a statement of the nature of the restrictions, qualifications or limitations, and a statement that the defendants claim some interest therein. The court shall make such judgment as it shall deem proper, taking into consideration the limitations, qualifications or restrictions, the resolution and all other matters pertinent thereto. Neither costs nor disbursements may be recovered against any defendant.
(3) The authority to lease property granted by this section includes authority to lease property not owned or controlled by the state at the time of entering into the lease. Such lease shall be conditioned upon the subsequent acquisition of the interest covered by the lease.
(4) Any lease of state real property exceeding five years must be approved in advance by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, except for leases:
(a) Negotiated by the Oregon Department of Aviation;
(b) Of state forestlands;
(c) Of property controlled by the Department of State Lands, the Department of Transportation or a public university listed in ORS 352.002; or
(d) Of property controlled by the legislative or judicial branches of state government. [1991 c.816 §5; 1999 c.935 §25; 2005 c.15 §1; 2009 c.762 §51; 2013 c.768 §120; 2015 c.572 §3]