Committee approves bill letting counties nominate culturally significant SITLA sites

Representative Carl Albrecht introduced HB 64 to create a structured process for counties to notify and nominate culturally or scientifically significant sites on School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) property. Albrecht said the bill is the result of months of negotiation to balance SITLA’s fiduciary mandate to generate revenue for beneficiaries and local communities’ interest in protecting particular cultural sites such as Promise Rock in Garfield County.

Michelle McConkie, SITLA director, described the measure as a collaboration tool that would improve communication with counties and communities about special areas while preserving SITLA’s statutory mission. The bill allows each county to nominate up to two sites and includes a 24-month window for counties to respond following director notification; the bill excludes mineral-development parcels from nomination when development would be materially affected.

Land-trust advocates and county leaders who testified online praised the compromise and emphasized the cultural value of specific sites. The committee voted to pass HB 64 with a favorable recommendation.