Rest‑stop funding cut but funding bill fails on tie after debate over private donations

House Bill 292, related to a rest‑stop project tied to the Festival of the American West, was amended on the floor to reduce the state's requested appropriation and then failed on a tie vote.

Representative Evan L. Olson moved amendments on Feb. 26 that replaced two references to $1,000,000 with $225,000 and explained the change preserved $75,000 for the Department of Transportation (UDOT) to make highway changes. Olson said private donations would cover most of the rest‑stop and related heritage exhibit work and described the item — previously criticized in coverage as a "million‑dollar" facility — as now a $225,000 state contribution.

Olson argued the rest stop would operate with significant private support and projected revenues, telling the House the facility could generate "about $4,000,000 gross" over four years and produce sales‑tax returns for the state. Other representatives pressed Olson on who would maintain the rest stop and whether the funding method matched typical transportation funding practice. Olson responded that the $225,000 "starts the process" and private donors would complete the project; maintenance, he said, would be handled by a private foundation.

When the House called the roll, HB 292 received 37 yes votes and 37 no votes; because the result was a tie the bill failed and will be filed. The floor record notes the bill's amended amounts and the proponent's view that private donations, not the state, would carry the long‑term cost of the site.

Next steps: HB 292 failed for lack of a majority and will be filed; proponents may seek to resubmit or rework funding sources later in the session.