Utah House creates interim Wildlife Management Task Force to study escalating conflicts

The Utah House on Feb. 26 approved House Bill 280 to create a Wildlife Management Task Force charged with studying how the state manages wildlife resources and reporting potential legislative fixes.

Representative Botley, who introduced the bill, said the panel would bring together affected parties to address recent controversies over wildlife issues. "This bill will create a task force that will meet during the interim period and make a report back to the interim study committee for natural resources by the end of the interim period by November so that possible legislation can be drafted," Botley said.

Botley described the task force's membership as legislative and stakeholder-driven: five House members, three Senate members, representatives from the Department of Natural Resources, consumptive and nonconsumptive wildlife interests, private landowners and public-land agencies including the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. He said legislative members would receive reimbursement and that legislative research would provide staff support.

Supporters noted heightened debate this session over wildlife matters and endorsements from the Natural Resources standing committee. Representative Bartley voiced his backing on the floor, calling the timing right for a dedicated study.

The House moved the previous question and approved the measure for transmission to the Senate. The sponsor told colleagues the task force aims to evaluate the structure and public-comment processes of existing boards, including the Division of Wildlife Resources' boards, and return recommendations that could be drafted into legislation next year.