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House endorses federal-state land exchange that sponsor says will add about 26,956 acres to state trust lands
Summary
The Utah House amended and approved a resolution tied to a federal-state trust lands exchange, with sponsor Bradley Johnson saying the deal yields a net increase of 26,956 acres to state trust lands; members debated conservation and negotiating leverage for the San Rafael Swell.
Representative Bradley Johnson moved an amendment and explained to the House that the agreement should be titled "Agreement for Exchange Lands 2002, Federal Utah State Trust Lands Consolidation." He described the exchange as providing a net increase of state trust lands and argued the trade consolidates scattered parcels into holdings that could generate revenue for the school trust.
"There is a net increase of state-owned lands of 26,956 acres," Representative Bradley Johnson said on the floor as he summarized the exchange and its expected benefits for school trust revenue and future development opportunities. Johnson said the state would receive parcels with development potential while federal land received by the government would include habitat and lands currently of limited revenue value.
Representative Steiler raised caution about precedent, saying that trading state trust lands out of areas that are not currently "locked up" (such as the proposed San Rafael Swell national monument area) could reduce the state's negotiating leverage on management policy for any future monument designation. Supporters, including Representative Seitz and Representative Hatch, said the exchange consolidates trust lands and increases potential revenue for school children while noting prior public outreach.
Representative Johnson noted the agreement still requires congressional approval and said the exchange must also be consistent with statutory requirements regarding approval of large exchanges. The amendment correcting the agreement's formal name passed on the floor and the resolution, as amended, was moved for further consideration and will be transmitted to the Senate; the transcript does not record a floor vote tally for the final passage on the floor in the captured segments.
Next steps: the exchange requires congressional action and final legislative approvals before it takes effect; members requested that any substantive changes to parcels return for legislative approval where statute requires it.
