For the first time in many Utah legislative sessions, there was little push this year for transferring public lands to the state.
But lawmakers did propose numerous bills, resolutions and budget items aimed at getting greater local and state influence over land-use decision making and promoting the oil, gas and mining industries.
For example, HJR1 and HJR2, respectively, call on the federal government to exempt Utah from future monument designations under the Antiquities Act and relocate federal land agency headquarters from Washington D.C. to Utah.
Another bill sought to indemnify local officials who take action “abating a catastrophic public nuisance” on public lands.