Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S1908-1912)
This bill designates numerous specified federal lands across Utah as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, listing named wilderness units and approximate acreages.
It directs Bureau of Land Management administration, requires maps and legal descriptions, reserves water for each wilderness, authorizes state trust land exchanges, limits mineral and geothermal leasing and mining claims subject to valid existing rights, sets road-setback boundary rules, allows existing livestock grazing to continue under regulation, and affirms protection of tribal rights and state wildlife jurisdiction.
Ambitious, high-profile land protections commonly face sustained local and industry opposition; compromise clauses help but do not eliminate major hurdles.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly structured substantive land‑designation statute that enumerates numerous wilderness units, integrates with existing statutes, and prescribes several concrete administrative and boundary rules. It delegates customary implementation actions to the Secretary and provides a basic administrative path.
Liberty to protect landscapes versus conservative view of federal overreach
Liberty to protect landscapes versus conservative view of federal overreach
Strongly supportive.
The bill permanently protects large, contiguous landscapes, cultural resources, and recreational opportunities.
It advances stated climate and biodiversity goals and recognizes Indigenous connections to the land.
Cautiously supportive but pragmatic.
The bill secures conservation benefits while raising concerns about local economic impacts, water adjudication, and the details of state trust land exchanges and boundary designations.
Would look for compromise measures addressing local needs and clear implementation funding.
Likely opposed.
Views this as an expansive federal land-use restriction that diminishes state and local control, limits resource development, and creates federal preemption over water and land uses despite some concessions for grazing and wildlife jurisdiction.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Ambitious, high-profile land protections commonly face sustained local and industry opposition; compromise clauses help but do not eliminate major hurdles.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberty to protect landscapes versus conservative view of federal overreach
Ambitious, high-profile land protections commonly face sustained local and industry opposition; compromise clauses help but do not eliminat…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly structured substantive land‑designation statute that enumerates numerous wilderness units, integrates with existing statutes, and prescribes several conc…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.