HCR 5: House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands - Utah

Amended 3/2/2026 14:03:787 → Amended 3/3/2026 20:03:490 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add specific locations for potential state parks and campgrounds, including Mueller Park Canyon, Pineview Reservoir, and Skyline Drive areas in Bountiful. The amendment also updated the reporting timeline to require annual reports before interim meetings in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include additional specific locations for potential state park designation and management.

SCOPE

Added Mueller Park Canyon in Davis County as a location the Division of State Parks may evaluate for designation as a state park.

Added Pineview Reservoir in Weber County as a location the Division of State Parks may evaluate for designation as a state park.

Added Skyline Drive in Bountiful, including Buckland Flats Campground, Bountiful Peak Campground, and former Farmington Canyon Sunset Campground areas, as locations to study for potential state park or campground.

TIMELINE

Changed the reporting requirement to specify annual reports before November interim meetings in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 20:03:490 → Amended 3/2/2026 14:03:787 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from a committee amendment format to a full legislative resolution, adding specific locations for potential state parks and updating the rationale to emphasize state capacity and federal maintenance backlogs. The new version removes references to congressional delegation leadership and adds detailed WHEREAS clauses about specific areas like Monte Cristo, Mueller Park Canyon, and Pineview Reservoir. This matters because it shifts the focus from federal-state cooperation frameworks to direct requests for land transfers to the state.

Scope change

The bill now includes specific geographic locations for potential state parks and monuments, and expands the scope to include school and institutional trust lands as potential recreation opportunities.

SCOPE

Added specific locations including Monte Cristo area, Mueller Park Canyon, and Pineview Reservoir as potential state park sites

Added provision to evaluate school and institutional trust lands in San Rafael Swell for public recreation

REQUIREMENT

Changed from encouraging negotiation with federal agencies to requesting division petitions and negotiations for land transfers

Removed reference to Utah's congressional delegation leadership as a model framework

Added request to update the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee on division's study

Amended Excerpts 3/2/2026 14:03:787 → Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 20:03:490 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to expand its scope by adding a new resolution that encourages negotiations with the United States Forest Service for transferring management of lands at Pineview Reservoir to the state for a new state park, while retaining the original provision for Flaming Gorge State Park. This change broadens the bill's purpose to include additional state park development opportunities beyond the original Antelope Flat Campground transfer.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include Pineview Reservoir as an additional site for potential state park creation, alongside the previously mentioned Flaming Gorge State Park.

SCOPE

Added a new resolution (lines 96a-96d) encouraging negotiations to transfer management of Pineview Reservoir lands to the state for state park creation.

Removed the original resolution text (line 96) that specifically mentioned transferring Antelope Flat Campground for Flaming Gorge State Park, though the Flaming Gorge reference remains in the new text.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the language from encouraging negotiation to also include entering into an agreement with federal agencies for property transfer.

Introduced → Amended Excerpts 3/2/2026 14:03:787 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to incorporate a recent cooperative agreement between the Governor and the U.S. Forest Service signed in January 2026, and to clarify that the division should negotiate for management of the Antelope Flat Campground rather than transfer of title. The amendments also update the language for acquiring federal lands to include 'exchange' alongside 'acquire' and 'lease', and specify that the division should enter into agreements with federal agencies. These changes reflect updated federal-state collaboration efforts and broaden the methods available for managing federal public lands.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a specific reference to an existing cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service and clarified the division's authority to enter into agreements for management rather than just title transfer.

REQUIREMENT

Added reference to the January 8, 2026 cooperative agreement between the Governor and the U.S. Forest Service as the basis for promoting effective management of federally managed public lands.

Changed the request regarding Antelope Flat Campground from transferring title to the state to negotiating for management of the campground by the division.

Updated language to allow the division to enter into agreements to acquire, exchange, lease, or manage properties with federal agencies, broadening the methods available for land management.

Replaced 'work with' with 'enter into agreements with' federal agencies to clarify the division's authority and commitment to formal agreements.

House Concurrent Resolution on State Management of Federal Public Lands

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