House urges federal partners to honor PILT, directs commission to evaluate tax-revenue formulas

Representative Ivory introduced HCR 19, a concurrent resolution asking federal officials and the state's federal delegation to honor long-standing promises of payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) that compensate communities for federal land ownership that removes property-tax revenue. Ivory said the federal promise from 1976 should yield payments that are 'just as good as taxes' and argued that current PILT payments shortchange children and communities, citing Garfield County land ownership statistics.

The resolution drew bipartisan support. Members on the floor described the disproportionate burden that heavy federal land ownership places on rural school funding and said the House should press the federal government for a fairer settlement. House members also noted the resolution would be sent to the federal delegation and relevant federal offices for consideration.

The House recorded a unanimous vote on HCR 19 (73–0) and transmitted the resolution to the Senate for consideration.

Representative Ivory also sponsored House Bill 357, which charges the federalism commission to convene stakeholders to develop a recommended formula and approach for calculating the payment that should approximate lost tax revenue from federal lands. On the floor, Representative Ivory moved an amendment changing a referenced year from '2018' to '2019' to correct an internal date; the amendment was adopted.

After debate about the need to involve stakeholders and work with the federal delegation, the House voted to pass HB 357 as amended (70–0). Representative Ivory said the bill is a step toward building a statutory, consultative pathway to negotiate a PILT formula with federal partners.

Next steps: HCR 19 and HB 357 will move forward in the legislative process and will be part of the state's engagement with its federal delegation.