House unanimously backs Hole in the Rock heritage resolution amid quiet-title litigation

The Utah House unanimously passed first substitute Senate Joint Resolution 1, a measure recognizing the historical significance of the Hole in the Rock Road and expressing support for a heritage center in Escalante. Representative Noel, who offered Amendment 5 to strengthen references to the road's historical role and funding interruptions from federal agencies, explained the amendment in the context of ongoing quiet-title litigation and administrative determinations.

Noel outlined that a quiet-title action would be filed in district court and described prior administrative determinations by the Bureau of Land Management and a mixed panel outcome in the McConnell decision at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. "We have valid documentation of the Hole in the Rock Road. It goes back to 1879 and continues in existence for over 131 years," Noel said, urging the House to support the resolution as a signal about the road's importance and to facilitate future validation of similar county roads.

Representative Lipback and others asked whether the resolution would create history or improperly substitute legislative pronouncement for judicial title determinations; supporters said the resolution affirms historical facts and supports further legal processes (quiet-title action) rather than changing legal title. The House adopted Amendment 5 and passed the resolution (69 yes, 0 no); the measure will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.