House approves substituted funding for Old Irontown State Park

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on Jan. 18 approved a substitute version of House Bill 53 that changes the bill’s funding for Old Irontown State Park to a $90,000 one-time appropriation and a $10,000 ongoing allocation.

Representative DeMar Bowman, sponsor of the measure and a Cedar City legislator, told colleagues the substituted bill reduces a prior $100,000 one-time appropriation to $90,000 and adds a $10,000 ongoing item to provide basic maintenance. "Old Irontown needs to be stabilized in order to preserve them for present and future generations," Bowman said, and listed planned uses including restrooms, a parking facility, fencing and new signage to serve visitors.

The proposal drew procedural and fiscal questions. Representative Cheryl Allen asked whether the $10,000 was truly ongoing or recorded as a one-time fiscal-year appropriation; Representative Bowman said the item is intended to be ongoing to support site maintenance. Other members suggested the appropriation might be consolidated with other state parks funding or handled through the fiscal prioritization process.

Bowman described the site’s local stewardship and visitation history, saying the National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers and the Cedar City chapter maintain the ruins and host more than 3,000 visitors annually in recent years. She said the state designation and modest ongoing support would help preserve the site’s historical features.

After brief debate and the sponsor’s waived summation, the House approved the first substitute by voice and recorded vote. The clerk announced the first substitute to House Bill 53 received 52 yes votes and 18 no votes; the measure was referred to the Senate for further consideration.

What happens next: The bill will go to the Senate for its consideration and any additional amendments or votes there.