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House approves Mineral Lease Amendments to redirect future royalties to schools and special districts
Summary
House Bill 96 would reallocate mineral lease revenues from certain federal land exchanges to transportation, schools and the state school fund if developed; the House passed HB96 by voice/roll call, 69–0.
The House approved House Bill 96 on Feb. 17, a proposal outlining redistribution of mineral lease revenues that may be derived if mineral resources on formerly federal‑owned lands are developed in the future.
Representative Hatch explained that the bill responds to prior federal land exchanges (Grand Staircase, Glen Canyon and others) and seeks to ensure that any future mineral lease revenues support local and state needs. Hatch summarized the allocation formula discussed on the floor: 40 percent to the Department of Transportation distributed to special service districts as under current allocation rules; 40 percent to the State Board of Education to be distributed to impacted school districts; 2.25 percent to the Utah Geological Survey; and the remaining 17.75 percent to the State School Fund administered by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration.
Hatch noted the resources are unlikely to be developed in the near term but argued the statutory allocation should be defined in advance so school districts and local governments can anticipate the distribution formula. After sponsor remarks and the end of debate, HB96 passed on the floor with a recorded vote of 69 yes, 0 no and was referred to the Senate for further action.
