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House approves $4.5M severance‑tax allocation to defend state land‑use interests
Summary
House Bill 482 directs $4.5 million in severance‑tax funding for the Constitutional Defense Council, the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, and the attorney general to support litigation and defenses related to federal land‑use actions; the House passed the bill 55–15 after debate over earmarks and appropriations.
Representative Ivory presented House Bill 482 to dedicate $4.5 million from severance taxes to fund litigation and defense of state interests related to federal land‑use and mineral access decisions. Ivory warned that diminishing mineral revenues and federal land withdrawals threatened the state’s revenue stream and said the funds would support the Constitutional Defense Council, the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, and the attorney general’s office in ongoing and anticipated litigation.
Representative Litvak asked for specifics on the fiscal note and whether the appropriation should instead be considered through the regular appropriations process. Ivory replied the funding would come from severance tax and fill gaps left by decreased land‑exchange distribution account balances, citing litigation over resource management plans, sage‑grouse listings, and other issues that require legal action to protect state revenue streams.
Some members called the proposal an earmark and urged using the appropriations process. Supporters argued the ongoing nature of the legal challenges required a stable funding stream to protect long‑term state revenue. The House approved HB482 55–15 and will send it to the Senate.
