WHEREAS, the Legislature is committed to protecting and enhancing the state's recreational opportunities, experiences, and facilities for the people of Utah;WHEREAS, state parks, state monuments, and state campgrounds provide valuable outdoor recreational opportunities and play a critical role in preserving the state's distinctive natural and cultural resources;WHEREAS, the state's growing population and vibrant tourism industry will require the state to develop new outdoor recreational opportunities and maintain existing state parks, state monuments, and state campgrounds;WHEREAS, the Monte Cristo area located in Cache, Rich, and Weber counties offers unique recreational opportunities that the Division of State Parks (division) may evaluate for designation as a state park, state monument, or state campground;WHEREAS, Mueller Park Canyon located in Davis County offers unique recreational opportunities that the division may evaluate for designation as a state park;WHEREAS, Pineview Reservoir located in Weber County offers unique recreational opportunities that the division may evaluate for designation as a state park;WHEREAS, various school and institutional trust lands, including trust lands in the San Rafael Swell area, may present opportunities for public recreation while generating revenue for trust beneficiaries;WHEREAS, the state has experience and capability in effectively managing state parks and other public lands;WHEREAS, state management has the potential to enhance economic opportunities while ensuring continued public access and resource protection;WHEREAS, the state is well positioned to understand and respond to local needs and conditions affecting public lands within the state;WHEREAS, the federal government manages numerous public lands within the state, many of which face significant maintenance backlogs and operational challenges that impact visitor experiences and resource conservation;WHEREAS, the United States Forest Service has decommissioned campgrounds in the state due to the degradation of campground infrastructure, including the Sunset Campground in Farmington Canyon;WHEREAS, there are several scenic public lands managed by federal agencies, including the Little Sahara Recreation Area, the Antelope Flat Campground near Flaming Gorge Reservoir, and land near Farmington Canyon and Skyline Drive in Bountiful, that could be managed by the state for public recreation;WHEREAS, the division has attempted in the past to enter into an agreement for the management of the Little Sahara Recreation Area as a state park, an area that receives 300,000 visitors annually;WHEREAS, in accordance with Utah Code Section 79-4-606, the division may enter into an agreement with the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the use of the Little Sahara Recreation Area as a state park;WHEREAS, in accordance with Utah Code Subsection 79-4-203(4), the division may acquire property in the name of the state by legal and proper means;WHEREAS, if a land transfer agreement is not possible, the division may seek to purchase or lease the land from the BLM under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, 43 U.S.C. Sec. 869;WHEREAS, state public lands and federally managed public lands could be enhanced and reclaimed for recreation and conservation purposes if cooperatively managed by the state;WHEREAS, a voluntary framework for state operation of federally managed public lands could help address maintenance backlogs while preserving federal obligations and environmental protections;WHEREAS, Utah's congressional delegation is uniquely positioned to understand the state's capacity and desire to manage public lands within the state; andWHEREAS, leadership from Utah's congressional delegation on this issue could establish a model framework benefiting all states:NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein, urges Utah's congressional delegation to lead the effort in Congress to establish a framework that allows the state to voluntarily assume operational responsibility, under a joint management agreement, for federally managed public lands within the state.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the division to once again petition the BLM to transfer title to the state of Utah all land necessary for the creation of the Little Sahara State Park.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the division to negotiate with the United States Forest Service to transfer the Antelope Flat Campground to the state for the creation of Flaming Gorge State Park.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the division to work with federal agencies to acquire, lease, or manage any other properties considered suitable for a state park, state monument, or state campground.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the division to evaluate recreational and scenic locations in the state, including the Monte Cristo area and trust lands in the San Rafael Swell, for designation as new state parks, state monuments, and state campgrounds.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage the division to study the feasibility of a potential state park or state campground near Skyline Drive in Davis County, including the Buckland Flats Campground, the Bountiful Peak Campground, and the former Farmington Canyon Sunset Campground areas.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor request that the division submit an annual report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee regarding the progress and status of the division's study before the November interim meetings in 2026, 2027, and 2028.