Utah

HR 3073: Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

This bill confers legal jurisdiction to the State of Utah over certain civil cases involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes. It also allows the tribe to lease its land held in trust. The tribe is located in southwestern Utah.

Specifically, the bill confers jurisdiction to the State of Utah over any civil cause of action (1) to which the Shivwits Band of Paiutes is a party, and (2) that arises on or within Indian lands. Under the bill, Indian lands are lands of the tribe that are (1) held in trust for the benefit of the tribe, or (2) subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer).

Additionally, the bill specifies that any cause of action arising from any contract or agreement (including a lease) to which the tribe is party or that affects or arises on these Indian lands shall be deemed a civil cause of action. Therefore, this bill allows the tribe and third parties to resolve contract disputes in state court.

The bill also authorizes the tribe to lease its land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years.

Sponsors

Celeste Maloy (R) UT

Cosponsors

Mike Kennedy (R) UT, Burgess Owens (R) UT

Introduced on
Tuesday, April 29th, 2025

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S 1508: Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

Shivwits Band of Paiutes Jurisdictional Clarity Act

This bill confers legal jurisdiction to the State of Utah over certain civil cases involving the Shivwits Band of Paiutes. It also allows the tribe to lease its land held in trust. The tribe is located in southwestern Utah.

Specifically, the bill confers jurisdiction to the State of Utah over any civil cause of action (1) to which the Shivwits Band of Paiutes is a party, and (2) that arises on or within Indian lands. Under the bill, Indian lands are lands of the tribe that are (1) held in trust for the benefit of the tribe, or (2) subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation (i.e., sale or transfer).

Additionally, the bill specifies that any cause of action arising from any contract or agreement (including a lease) to which the tribe is party or that affects or arises on these Indian lands shall be deemed a civil cause of action. Therefore, this bill allows the tribe and third parties to resolve contract disputes in state court.

The bill also authorizes the tribe to lease its land held in trust for a term of up to 99 years.

Sponsors

John Curtis (R) UT

Cosponsors

None

Introduced on
Tuesday, April 29th, 2025

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SJRES 30: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Park Service relating to “Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Motor Vehicles”.

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the National Park Service titled Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Motor Vehicles and published on January 13, 2025. The rule modified regulations concerning the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is located in northern Arizona and southeastern Utah. For example, the rule limited the use of off-road vehicles, such as off-highway vehicles and all-terrain vehicles, in certain areas.

Sponsors

John Curtis (R) UT

Cosponsors

Mike Lee (R) UT

Introduced on
Monday, March 3rd, 2025

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HJRES 60: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Park Service relating to “Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Motor Vehicles”.

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the National Park Service titled Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Motor Vehicles and published on January 13, 2025. The rule modified regulations concerning the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is located in northern Arizona and southeastern Utah. For example, the rule limited the use of off-road vehicles, such as off-highway vehicles and all-terrain vehicles, in certain areas.

Sponsors

Celeste Maloy (R) UT

Cosponsors

Mike Kennedy (R) UT, Blake Moore (R) UT, Burgess Owens (R) UT

Introduced on
Friday, February 21st, 2025

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S 154: Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act

Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act

This bill extends through FY2026 the Bureau of Reclamation’s pilot projects to increase water levels in the Upper Colorado River Basin and Lake Mead due to drought conditions.

Sponsors

John Hickenlooper (D) CO

Cosponsors

John Barrasso (R) WY, John Curtis (R) UT, Cynthia Lummis (R) WY, Michael Bennet (D) CO

Introduced on
Tuesday, January 21st, 2025

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HR 376: Historic Roadways Protection Act

Historic Roadways Protection Act

This bill prohibits the Bureau for Land Management (BLM) from closing historical roads on public lands in certain areas of Utah until the Federal District Court for Utah makes a decision on each of the R.S. 2477 cases, which are cases brought by Utah and counties to keep historical roads on BLM land in Utah open for public use.

By way of background, a provision of the Mining Law of 1866, commonly known as R.S. 2477, granted rights-of-way to states and counties across public lands for the construction of roads for public use in order to promote settlement of the American West. In 1976, Congress repealed R.S. 2477 when it enacted the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), but FLPMA preserved rights-of-way that had been established under R.S. 2477. After the BLM released travel management plans that closed some historical roads, Utah and 22 counties filed lawsuits about their rights-of-way across public lands for historical roads.

Until the BLM certifies that those cases have been decided, the bill prohibits the BLM from obligating or expending federal funds to (1) finalize or implement a new travel management plan for certain travel management areas in Utah; or (2) implement, with respect to land within the boundary of Utah, the Indian Creek (Canyon Rims) Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan, or the Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan.

Sponsors

Mike Kennedy (R) UT

Cosponsors

Burgess Owens (R) UT, Blake Moore (R) UT, Celeste Maloy (R) UT

Introduced on
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025

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S 90: Historic Roadways Protection Act

Historic Roadways Protection Act

This bill prohibits the Bureau for Land Management (BLM) from closing historical roads on public lands in certain areas of Utah until the Federal District Court for Utah makes a decision on each of the R.S. 2477 cases, which are cases brought by Utah and counties to keep historical roads on BLM land in Utah open for public use.

By way of background, a provision of the Mining Law of 1866, commonly known as R.S. 2477, granted rights-of-way to states and counties across public lands for the construction of roads for public use in order to promote settlement of the American West. In 1976, Congress repealed R.S. 2477 when it enacted the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), but FLPMA preserved rights-of-way that had been established under R.S. 2477. After the BLM released travel management plans that closed some historical roads, Utah and 22 counties filed lawsuits about their rights-of-way across public lands for historical roads.

Until the BLM certifies that those cases have been decided, the bill prohibits the BLM from obligating or expending federal funds to (1) finalize or implement a new travel management plan for certain travel management areas in Utah; or (2) implement, with respect to land within the boundary of Utah, the Indian Creek (Canyon Rims) Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan, or the Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan.

Sponsors

Mike Lee (R) UT

Cosponsors

John Curtis (R) UT

Introduced on
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025

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HR 231: Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act of 2025

Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act of 2025

This bill extends through FY2026 the Bureau of Reclamation’s pilot projects to increase water levels in the Upper Colorado River Basin and Lake Mead due to drought conditions.

Sponsors

Harriet Hageman (R) WY

Cosponsors

Celeste Maloy (R) UT

Introduced on
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025

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