Committee advances resolution encouraging state cooperation on federal public lands

The House Natural Resources committee passed HCR 5, a concurrent resolution that encourages state cooperation with federal land managers to expand recreational access and explore cooperative-management or transfer arrangements for select sites.

Representative Edelson, the sponsor, said HCR 5 combines elements from three prior resolutions and focuses on practical opportunities such as Antelope Flats and Pine Creek rather than broad efforts to assume control of national parks. "This resolution highlights several areas where state parks and federal partners might work together or consider transfers under established authorities," Edelson said.

State Parks Director Scott Strong told the committee that the state often uses cooperative agreements — for example, agreements with the Bureau of Reclamation to operate parks — and that HCR 5 would formalize a legislative posture to facilitate future negotiations. Committee members asked about fiscal impacts; Edelson said the resolution does not obligate funding but seeks to create a framework so negotiations can proceed with the expectation of future appropriation discussions.

Representative Watkins moved and the committee adopted Amendment 1; the committee then voted to pass HCR 5 as amended out with a favorable recommendation. Representatives who expressed caution urged further specificity to avoid unintended implications about ownership or operational responsibility. The sponsor said controversial language from a past draft (seeking broader park management authority) was removed prior to the current amendment.

The resolution will be transmitted for further consideration and is intended to prompt follow-up fiscal and legal analyses before any actual land transfers or appropriations are pursued.