House approves modest funding, limits on artifact purchases for State Historical Division

The House debated H.B. 204, legislation expanding the State Division of History’s authority to collect and reproduce historical artifacts and documentary materials for educational purposes, and passed the bill as amended.

Representative Evans (sponsor) circulated examples on the floor — a pen used by President Grover Cleveland to sign Utah into statehood and a corroded belt buckle associated with the Donner Party — to illustrate the bill’s aims: preserving artifacts in state custody and enabling reproductions for classroom use. He said the bill would augment the State Department of History’s ability to collect and reproduce materials and provide modest funding; he referenced a prior $450 cost to create a replica odometer used by Mormon pioneers as an example of replication costs.

Representative Allen questioned whether the division could acquire artifacts without compensation and sought clarification. The sponsor said the intent was to encourage donations and that no power of eminent domain was conferred. Representative Allen moved an amendment (pink sheet dated Feb. 11) to clarify that nothing in the chapter authorizes the division to acquire by purchase any artifact that federal law or other law restricts from sale; the amendment passed.

Voting followed. The amended H.B. 204 received 44 affirmative votes and 22 negatives and was passed by the House to the Senate for further consideration.

Next steps: the bill proceeds to the Senate; floor record notes the program will be limited in scope and that the $10,000/replication and acquisition funding levels are modestly framed in the fiscal note and debate.