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Senate amends SB 55 to expand land‑conservation task force membership; fiscal note noted
Summary
SB 55 creates a task force to study conservation of prime agricultural land. Senators supported the study but debated representation and agreed to amendments increasing membership counts; sponsors said the fiscal note is $35,500 and accepted adjustments that will increase costs modestly.
Senate Bill 55, presented by Senator Leonard Blackham, would form a land‑conservation task force to examine preservation of prime agricultural land across Utah and to propose mechanisms such as conservation easements.
Blackham and other sponsors framed the proposal as a response to rapid growth and development pressures along the Wasatch Front and in counties such as Cache and Summit. Debate focused on task force composition and equal representation between the House and Senate: one floor amendment changed the number of legislative appointees (the body accepted revisions changing several membership counts from three to five and adjusting corresponding travel/fiscal assumptions).
Senators repeatedly emphasized the bill’s purpose was not to oppose development but to explore tools — including purchase of conservation easements — that could balance agricultural preservation with development rights.
Floor sponsors noted the fiscal note on the bill is $35,500 (one‑time) for start‑up and administrative costs; senators acknowledged that expanding membership would increase that amount and accepted that consequence as part of the amendment process.
Quote: “The nuts and bolts of the thing comes down to the issue of how do you buy up some of those conservation easements,” Senator Leonard Blackham said while introducing the bill.
Next steps: the floor accepted amendments and moved the bill toward third reading; sponsors and staff will continue coordinating committee and fiscal details.
