UtahUtah asserts authority over some federal lands and maps large tracts
Utah law asserts state authority over certain federally controlled lands and directs a state office to map large tracts and report on them yearly.
What it does
Utah law asserts state authority over federally controlled lands where the federal government holds only a property owner's interest, subject to the stated exception.
The Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office must map large, connected tracts of land in Utah, with layers for public access, nuisance areas, and mineral areas.
The office must report yearly on map updates and recommend where state agencies could establish zones for high-value mineral areas.
The division may identify forested areas on large, connected tracts as public nuisance areas after considering forest, water, and other conditions.
Argument forA shared map and yearly updates could help state agencies and the public see access, forest concerns, and mineral areas together.
Argument againstRecommendations about mineral zones could draw more attention to mineral development than to other uses of these large areas.
More detail
Utah law affirms state jurisdiction over federally controlled lands where the federal government holds only a property owner's interest. The provision concerns federally controlled lands where the federal government holds only a property interest, as an ordinary landowner, without governing or lawmaking authority. The law says these lands are presumed to be under state jurisdiction unless the federal government shows that the Constitution or a state transfer of authority gives it jurisdiction.
The Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office must identify and digitally map landscape-scale lands in Utah. Landscape-scale lands are connected tracts of at least 250,000 acres under common title, lease, or unified management within Utah. The office must coordinate with public and private entities and the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to develop the map and identify nuisance-area boundaries. The office must identify and map these lands before January 1, 2028.
The office must report map updates and recommendations about establishing zones for high-value mineral areas. The report goes to the Federalism Commission and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee. The report must include updates to the digital map and recommendations for establishing zones for high-value mineral areas. The office must submit the report by October 1 each year.
The Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands may identify landscape public nuisance areas on landscape-scale lands containing forested areas. A forested area has at least 50% tree canopy cover. Landscape-scale lands are connected tracts of at least 250,000 acres under common title, lease, or unified management within Utah. The division may consider tree cover, forest health, pests and disease, fuel loads, water supply, weather, and other relevant factors.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 5House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 4Senate/ circled
- Mar 4Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 2Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 2Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Mar 2Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 27Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 27Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 27House/ to Senate
- Feb 27House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 27House/ floor amendment
- Feb 27House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 23House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 23House/ committee report favorable [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 23House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 17House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 13House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 12LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0546
- Feb 12LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0546
- Feb 11House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 11House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 11LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0546
- Feb 11LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0546
- Feb 11Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 11Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
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