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House passes 'Utah Wilderness Act' message bill, emphasizing state stewardship
Summary
House approved HB 160, presented as a state-centered framework modeled in part on the 1964 federal Wilderness Act; sponsor and supporters said the bill does not itself designate wilderness but creates a process and signals Utah's conservation ethic; passage was 69–3.
Representative Handy introduced House Bill 1 60, calling it a Utah-centered framework to recognize state stewardship of public lands and to create a legislative process for potential future designations. "This act does not designate wilderness," Handy said on the floor, stressing the bill is a framework and a message bill rather than an immediate land designation.
Sponsor and supporters described the bill as providing a legislative path to consider state-managed wilderness on state lands and to create application and review processes for stewardship. Representative Stratton said the bill establishes an equitable remedy and will be part of a package of land bills under consideration, while Representative Barris said the management framework could open opportunities for public enjoyment rather than exclusion. Handy characterized the bill as demonstrating Utahns’ conservation ethic and urged support.
The House adopted the bill after floor debate and will transmit it to the Senate; the recorded vote was 69 yay to 3 nay.
