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House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This resolution urges the federal government and state entities to identify public lands for
the state to manage for outdoor recreation.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
highlights the need to develop and maintain state parks, monuments, and campgrounds to
provide the people of Utah with outdoor recreational opportunities;
suggests land that the Division of State Parks (division) may consider for a potential state
park, state monument, or state campground;
encourages the division to work with federal agencies to acquire, lease, or manage
properties considered suitable for use as a state park, monument, or campground;
urges Congress to establish a framework for state operation of federal public lands, under
a joint management agreement, to improve public land management and reduce federal
expenditures;
requests that the division petition the Bureau of Land Management to transfer land to the
state for the creation of the Little Sahara State Park;
requests that the division negotiate with the United States Forest Service to transfer the
Antelope Flat Campground to the state for the creation of the Flaming Gorge State Park;
and
requests that the division update the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
Interim Committee on the division's study regarding new state parks and state
campgrounds.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
WHEREAS, the Legislature is committed to protecting and enhancing the state's
recreational opportunities, experiences, and facilities for the people of Utah;
WHEREAS, state parks, state monuments, and state campgrounds provide valuable outdoor
recreational opportunities and play a critical role in preserving the state's distinctive natural
and cultural resources;
WHEREAS, the state's growing population and vibrant tourism industry will require the
state to develop new outdoor recreational opportunities and maintain existing state parks, state
monuments, and state campgrounds;
WHEREAS, the Monte Cristo area located in Cache, Rich, and Weber counties offers
unique recreational opportunities that the Division of State Parks (division) may evaluate for
designation as a state park, state monument, or state campground;
WHEREAS, Mueller Park Canyon located in Davis County offers unique recreational
opportunities that the division may evaluate for designation as a state park;
WHEREAS, Pineview Reservoir located in Weber County offers unique recreational
opportunities that the division may evaluate for designation as a state park;
WHEREAS, various school and institutional trust lands, including trust lands in the San
Rafael Swell area, may present opportunities for public recreation while generating revenue for
trust beneficiaries;
WHEREAS, the state has experience and capability in effectively managing state parks and
other public lands;
WHEREAS, state management has the potential to enhance economic opportunities while
ensuring continued public access and resource protection;
WHEREAS, the state is well positioned to understand and respond to local needs and
conditions affecting public lands within the state;
WHEREAS, the federal government manages numerous public lands within the state, many
of which face significant maintenance backlogs and operational challenges that impact visitor
experiences and resource conservation;
WHEREAS, the United States Forest Service has decommissioned campgrounds in the
state due to the degradation of campground infrastructure, including the Sunset Campground
in Farmington Canyon;
WHEREAS, there are several scenic public lands managed by federal agencies, including
the Little Sahara Recreation Area, the Antelope Flat Campground near Flaming Gorge
Reservoir, and land near Farmington Canyon and Skyline Drive in Bountiful, that could be
managed by the state for public recreation;
WHEREAS, the division has attempted in the past to enter into an agreement for the
management of the Little Sahara Recreation Area as a state park, an area that receives 300,000
visitors annually;
WHEREAS, in accordance with Utah Code Section
79-4-606
, the division may enter into
an agreement with the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the use of the
Little Sahara Recreation Area as a state park;
WHEREAS, in accordance with Utah Code Subsection
79-4-203(4)
, the division may
acquire property in the name of the state by legal and proper means;
WHEREAS, if a land transfer agreement is not possible, the division may seek to purchase
or lease the land from the BLM under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, 43 U.S.C. Sec.
869;
WHEREAS, state public lands and federally managed public lands could be enhanced and
reclaimed for recreation and conservation purposes if cooperatively managed by the state;
WHEREAS, a voluntary framework for state operation of federally managed public lands
could help address maintenance backlogs while preserving federal obligations and
environmental protections;
WHEREAS, Utah's congressional delegation is uniquely positioned to understand the
state's capacity and desire to manage public lands within the state; and
WHEREAS, leadership from Utah's congressional delegation on this issue could establish a
model framework benefiting all states:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
Governor concurring therein, urges Utah's congressional delegation to lead the effort in
Congress to establish a framework that allows the state to voluntarily assume operational
responsibility, under a joint management agreement, for federally managed public lands within
the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the
division to once again petition the BLM to transfer title to the state of Utah all land necessary
for the creation of the Little Sahara State Park.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the
division to negotiate with the United States Forest Service to transfer the Antelope Flat
Campground to the state for the creation of Flaming Gorge State Park.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the
division to work with federal agencies to acquire, lease, or manage any other properties
considered suitable for a state park, state monument, or state campground.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the division to
evaluate recreational and scenic locations in the state, including the Monte Cristo area and
trust lands in the San Rafael Swell, for designation as new state parks, state monuments, and
state campgrounds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the
division to study the feasibility of a potential state park or state campground near Skyline
Drive in Davis County, including the Buckland Flats Campground, the Bountiful Peak
Campground, and the former Farmington Canyon Sunset Campground areas.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor request that the
division submit an annual report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
Interim Committee regarding the progress and status of the division's study before the
November interim meetings in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
1-6-26 1:39 PM