House narrows petroglyph bill after debate over state role and private property protections

Representative Larson Lloyd moved a second‑reading amendment to Senate File 91 that would have required the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to include the cost of surveying and 3‑D modeling petroglyphs on state lands in its next standard budget request. He said the goal was to keep preservation and documentation on the agency’s radar after an appropriation was removed on the Senate side.

Some representatives questioned whether the effort should be led by the state or by non‑profit organizations and community groups; Representative Bair urged private and nonprofit participation and expressed concern about creating an expectation that the state would “pick up the tab.” Representative Otman asked whether the inventory would include pictographs dating back several decades.

On a close recorded count the amendment failed; the Speaker announced "The amendment has not been adopted 25 to 26." After that vote, Representative Ollivant offered a second reading amendment that changed language to require state agencies to obtain permission from private landowners before accessing private property to reach state parcels for surveying. Supporters said the change strengthened private property protections; Representative Byron described it as “strengthening private property rights.” The amendment was adopted, and Senate File 91 was ordered to third reading.

Ending: The bill will move forward without a direct appropriation for 3‑D documentation but with explicit language requiring agencies to seek permission from private landowners before accessing private property to reach state lands for surveys. Proponents said the adopted private‑property language preserves landowner rights while keeping preservation work possible through coordination.