63L-11-305. Facilitating the acquisition of federally managed public land under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act.

659 words·~3 min read·/ut/title-63l/chapter-11/63l-11-305

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

(1)As used in this section:

(a)"Federally managed public land" means federally managed public land that the secretary is authorized to dispose of under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act.

(b)"Government entity" means a state or local government entity allowed to submit a land application under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act.

(c)"Land application" means an application under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act requesting the secretary to sell or lease federally managed public land.

(d)"Land application process" means the actions involved in the process of submitting and obtaining a final decision on a land application.

(e)"Recreation and Public Purposes Act" means the tool for the disposal of federally managed public land enacted as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, 43 U.S.C. Sec. 869 et seq.

(f)"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior of the United States.

(2)The office shall:

(a)develop expertise:

(i)in the land application process; and

(ii)concerning the factors that tend to increase the chances that a land application will result in the secretary selling or leasing federally managed public land as requested in the land application;

(b)work to educate government entities concerning:

(i)the availability of federally managed public land pursuant to the Recreation and Public Purposes Act; and

(ii)the land application process;

(c)advise and consult with a government entity that requests assistance from the office to formulate and submit a land application and to pursue a decision on the land application;

(d)advise and consult with a government entity that requests assistance from the office to identify and quantify the amount of any funds needed to provide the public use described in a land application;

(e)adopt a list of factors to be considered in determining the degree to which a land application or potential land application is in the public interest;

(f)recommend a prioritization of land applications or potential land applications in the state according to the extent to which the land applications are in the public interest, based on the factors adopted under Subsection (2)(e) ;

(g)monitor land applications submitted by government entities for federally managed public land located within the state, including annually contacting and collecting relevant data from government entities to determine whether the government entities have submitted land applications;

(h)prepare and submit a written report:

(i)to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee and the Federalism Commission;

(A)annually by no later than August 31; and

(B)at other times, if and as requested by the committee or commission; and

(A)on the activities of the office under this section;

(B)on the land applications and potential land applications in the state, including information based on the monitoring of land applications under Subsection (2)(g) ;

(C)on the decisions of the secretary on land applications submitted by government entities in the state; and

(D)on the quantity of land acquired under the land applications;

(i)present a summary of information contained in the report described in Subsection (2)(h) :

(i)at a meeting of the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee and at a meeting of the Federalism Commission;

(ii)annually no later than August 31; and

(iii)at other times, if and as requested by the committee or commission; and

(j)report to the Executive Appropriations Committee of the Legislature, as frequently as the advisor considers appropriate or as requested by the Executive Appropriations Committee, on the need for legislative appropriations to provide funds for the public purposes described in land applications.

(3)The office may:

(a)assist a government entity or the secretary in the filing and processing of a land application; and

(b)enter into an agreement with the secretary related to the office assisting in processing a land application.

Amended by Chapter 492 , 2026 General Session