The Utah County Commission voted unanimously on 2025-07-02 to adopt a nonbinding resolution supporting federal legislation proposed by U.S. Sen. Mike Lee that would permit conveyance or local management of certain underused federal tracts near cities.

Commissioners said the resolution is meant to support local control of small, underutilized parcels that are contiguous to existing infrastructure and to clarify the county's stance as federal and state lawmakers consider legislation. County speakers emphasized that the proposal, as they described it, is not intended to sell national parks or popular recreational lands and that protections for open space, environmental assets and public access were part of local supporters' framing.

One commissioner cautioned that recent media coverage included inaccurate maps and what she described as a coordinated misinformation campaign that had confused some residents about the bill's scope. Commissioners said the resolution is nonbinding and was added to the packet shortly before the meeting; they approved it after discussion, saying they supported the principle of returning management or control of specific, appropriate parcels to local oversight when that would advance housing and infrastructure goals.

During debate, commissioners also referenced broader concerns about federal land management capacity, noting examples of federal staffing reductions affecting restroom maintenance in canyon areas. A commissioner suggested that county tourism-related funds already directed to canyon maintenance could help with short-term needs while larger policy changes are considered at the federal level.

The resolution will be transmitted to the senator's office and serves as an expression of the county commission's position rather than a binding policy change.