Utah Senate approves emergency funding to keep national parks open amid federal shutdown

The Utah Senate on Oct. 16 approved First Substitute Senate Bill 2,001, authorizing use of money from the Sovereign Lands Management Fund to keep national parks, monuments and national recreation areas open while the federal government remains partially shut down. The bill, sponsored by Senator Adams, passed after expedited procedures and recorded votes and will be sent to the House for consideration.

Senator Adams, sponsor of the substitute, told colleagues the measure appropriates money from the Sovereign Lands fund and explained the economic rationale for the short-term funding: “This bill actually appropriates that money from the Sovereign Lands Management Fund,” he said, adding that the action was intended to “keep those parks open through Thanksgiving” and to support local businesses affected by closures. The sponsor referenced prior executive commitments and cited daily and aggregate spending figures during discussion.

A suite of accountability measures was attached to the substitute. Senators pressed for oversight of the daily operating figure; Senator Hilliard said he wanted an accounting of the $166,000-per-day number and where the funds are going, asking whether the federal government knew how its money was being spent. The substitute directs further appropriations or extensions to come through the Executive Appropriations Committee, and the sponsor stated that unused appropriated amounts would lapse back to the Sovereign Lands Management Account.

Senator Robles offered an amendment urging the State’s congressional delegation to seek full federal reimbursement; committee staff advised the amendment did not violate prior federal stipulations and senators agreed to include the language.

Supporters framed the measure as an economic rescue for affected communities. Senator Okerlund and other supporters cited lost tourist revenue—one senator noted buses of turned-away visitors at Bryce Canyon—and repeated testimony emphasized impacts on hotels, restaurants and outfitters. Opponents were not recorded; discussion focused on technical drafting and accountability rather than refusal to fund operations.

The Senate voted to pass the First Substitute to SB 2,001 under suspension of rules; the clerk later recorded that the bill had received 27 yea votes, 0 nay votes, 2 absent. The bill will be transmitted to the House for further action. The Senate also included language in the substitute to expedite reopening of a migratory bird refuge in Box Elder County.

Next steps: the bill goes to the House for consideration; the substitute requires the Executive Appropriations Committee to review and approve any additional weekly appropriations and directs that amounts not used to open and operate parks lapse back to the Sovereign Lands Management Account.