12-18 17:19 H.B. 34
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State Campgrounds Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
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LONG TITLE
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Committee Note:
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The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee recommended
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this bill.
7 Legislative Vote:15 voting for0 voting against4 absent
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General Description:
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This bill addresses the designation of state campgrounds.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ defines terms;
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▸ establishes the procedure for designating a state campground;
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▸ addresses management of state campgrounds; and
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▸ authorizes rulemaking by the Division of State Parks to:
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● establish the process for completing and submitting an application; and
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● administer management of a state campground.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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None
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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ENACTS:
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79-4-1301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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79-4-1302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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79-4-1303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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79-4-1304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 79-4-1301 is enacted to read:
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Part 13. State Campgrounds H.B. 34 12-18 17:19
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79-4-1301 . Definitions.
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As used in this part:
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(1) "Application" means a written application that a person submits to the division to
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nominate a parcel of state land or an existing campground located on state land for
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designation as a state campground.
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(2)(a) "Campground" means real property made available to individuals for camping,
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whether camping by tent, trailer, camper, cabin, recreational vehicle, or similar
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equipment.
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(b) "Campground" includes the outdoor recreational infrastructure, as that term is
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defined in Section 51-9-901, located on the real property.
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(3) "Committee" means:
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(a) the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee if the
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Legislature is not in session; or
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(b) the House or Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Standing
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Committee if the Legislature is in session.
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(4) "State campground" means a campground:
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(a) located on state land;
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(b) confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the
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campground; and
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(c) designated in accordance with this part.
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(5) "State land" means land owned or managed by the state.
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Section 2. Section 79-4-1302 is enacted to read:
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79-4-1302 . Application for state campground -- Rulemaking -- Division duties --
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Committee duties.
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(1) The division may make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
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Administrative Rulemaking Act:
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(a) to establish the process for the submission of an application; and
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(b) for the administration of a state campground, subject to valid existing rights and
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Section 79-4-1304.
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(2) When the division receives a completed application, the division shall:
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(a) evaluate the application;
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(b) submit the completed application and the results of the division's evaluation
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described in Subsection (2)(a) to the following entities or individuals for review, as
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applicable:
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(i) the legislative body of a county that contains some portion of the proposed state
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campground within the county's geographic borders;
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(ii) the legislative body of a municipality that contains some portion of the proposed
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state campground within the municipality's geographic borders;
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(iii) each legislator whose legislative district is located within the geographic borders
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of the proposed state campground; and
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(iv) a state agency if the proposed state campground is located within the
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jurisdictional boundaries of the state agency; and
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(c) provide a written report to a committee that includes:
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(i) the results of the division's evaluation described in Subsection (2)(a); and
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(ii) any resolution or comment the division received from an entity or individual
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described in Subsection (2)(b).
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(3) The division may:
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(a) evaluate private and federal land with the potential to be purchased by, transferred to,
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or leased to the state for potential designation as a state campground; and
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(b) enter into negotiations with the relevant federal agency or private entity to pursue the
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transfer, sale, or lease of private or federal land for the proposed state campground, as
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appropriations allow.
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(4) Except as provided in Subsection (5), after reviewing a report described in Subsection
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(2)(c), a committee may:
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(a) recommend that the Legislature and governor approve the proposed state
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campground in accordance with Section 79-4-1303; or
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(b) return the report to the division for further study and evaluation.
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(5) A committee may not recommend a proposed state campground to the Legislature if:
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(a) a county or municipality described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) or (ii) adopts a resolution
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opposing the proposed state campground; or
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(b) designating the state campground may cause a state agency to breach a fiduciary,
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contractual, or other legal obligation governing management or use of land that is
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included within the geographic borders of the proposed state campground.
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Section 3. Section 79-4-1303 is enacted to read:
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79-4-1303 . Designation.
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(1) The Legislature and the governor shall designate a state campground through concurrent
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resolution.
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(2) Notwithstanding the requirements described in Section 79-4-1302, the Legislature and
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governor may act under this section to designate a state campground.
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Section 4. Section 79-4-1304 is enacted to read:
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79-4-1304 . Management.
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(1)(a) Subject to Subsection (2), the division is responsible for the management of a
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state campground.
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(b) The division may contract with another agency or entity for management services
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related to the management of a state campground.
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(2) Upon Title 63L, Chapter 8, Utah Public Land Management Act, taking effect as
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described in Section 63L-8-602, the government entity responsible for management of
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the public lands is responsible for the management of a state campground.
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Section 5. Effective date.
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This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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