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Heated floor debate on HB143 seeks state eminent-domain route to access federal lands for school trust funding
Summary
HB143, proposing limited eminent-domain authority over some federal lands to provide access to school trust lands and pursue related litigation, drew lengthy debate over constitutional risks and potential educational funding benefits; an amendment narrowing who may sue was adopted on the floor.
House Bill 143, which would authorize the State of Utah to pursue eminent-domain actions against certain federal lands to gain access or development rights for school trust lands, prompted an extended and impassioned debate on the House floor on Feb. 25.
Representative Chris Herrod (presented in the transcript as Representative Harrod), sponsor of the bill, framed the measure as a tool to restore state control and access to lands that could provide long-term funding for public education. "This bill is about coming back to those basic principles," he said, citing constitutional and historical…
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