Local government entities in Utah — from cities and counties to school boards and universities — are free to support and advocate for federal lands designations under a bill approved by the House on Monday.
But those entities would have to make a trip to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee and explain themselves to the state’s federal government-averse lawmakers under the bill, HB78, which passed on a largely party-line 55-18 vote.
“I’m in no means trying to take away local control by the county or the city,” said bill sponsor Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield, adding that his proposal is meant to insure “coordination” with the state.