Representative Shelly presented the third substitute to HB103, motivated by recent federal and state road closures that agency witnesses said have removed significant motorized access on public lands.

The third substitute focuses on class D roads (generally small, unpaved routes) and requires state land managers and counties to record rights‑of‑way for designated class D roads so recordation is clear at the county level. The bill lists an initial set of counties (Carbon, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, Wayne) based on earlier RS 2477 recordation funding and discussions; the sponsor said the measure could be expanded in later years if counties that have not yet used RS 2477 funds elect to do so.

The substitute allows state managers (including the Division of Wildlife Resources in the testimony) to request seasonal or temporary road closures for biological reasons — for example, calving or fawning — but gives the county commission a formal role in closure decisions. If a county and state entity both agree that a road should be abandoned, the statute provides a framework for that action; otherwise roads remain recorded and open for public access.

Agency witnesses, including the Division of Wildlife Resources, UDOT and the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, said they worked with the sponsor on the third substitute and supported or were neutral on the substitute. Witnesses emphasized that recordation strengthens local influence in federal travel-management processes and provides evidence for preserving access.

Action: The committee adopted the third substitute and recommended HB103 favorably in a unanimous vote. Sponsors and agency witnesses said the substitute reduced fiscal concerns present in earlier drafts.

Ending: The substitute aims to preserve and clarify local access to class D roads on state lands, attach county recordation and oversight to seasonal closures, and provide a procedural pathway in the event of abandonment decisions agreed to by county and state entities.