Utah House adopts supplemental funding to secure Range Creek, sends measure to Senate

The Utah House on Sept. 15 passed First Substitute House Bill 4001, a supplemental appropriations measure that reallocates state money to protect the Range Creek archaeological site, and referred the bill to the Senate after a 72-0 roll-call vote.

Representative Bigelow, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the substitute clarifies prior appropriations and moves money to shore up security at Range Creek. "So we are identifying that we will move $50,000 of ongoing money from the Museum of Natural History to the Department of Natural Resources for security," Bigelow said, adding that an additional one-time allocation of $102,000 from state surplus would also go to DNR to support protection efforts.

The move follows an earlier appropriation that had allocated $200,000 for Range Creek work; the amendment clarifies that $150,000 remains available directly for Range Creek and that the museum appropriation was changed "from 822,000 to 722,500" to show that not all museum funds were intended for the site. Bigelow said the $152,000 figure appearing elsewhere in the bill reflects a different transfer of reserve or excess funds to the Department of Natural Resources and is not the same as the $150,000 remaining from the original $200,000.

Lawmakers emphasized the site's scientific value and the need for immediate protection. "This is not only a local treasure, but actually is really a national treasure," Bigelow said, urging colleagues to support immediate action; he noted roughly "300 different sites" have been identified on the property. Representative Allen thanked preservation partners and named "Mr. Waldo Wilcox" as "a wonderful keeper of the treasures there," and Representative King called Range Creek "an amazing thing to see," urging long-term, visionary planning for stewardship.

The House adopted amendment No. 1 (the "pink sheet") on the floor before voting on the bill. By roll call, Speaker announced: "First House Bill 4,001 as amended, having received 72 yes votes, 0 no votes, passes its body and will be referred to the Senate for further consideration." The bill now goes to the Senate, where it will receive further consideration.

Procedural note: Sponsor statements on immediacy said the change should take effect immediately and therefore required a two-thirds vote to do so; the House vote forwarded the amended bill to the Senate. No recorded opposition appeared on the House floor during the vote.

Next steps: The Senate will consider First Substitute House Bill 4001; if approved there, funding and the implementation plan for Range Creek security and management will move forward under the Department of Natural Resources' oversight.