Last week, the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations committee in Montana voted to pass House Joint Resolution 24 to the House floor. The resolution endorses a Utah lawsuit against the federal government, seeking ownership of 37 million acres of federal public lands. Sponsored by Republican Tom Millett, the bill highlights the lack of sovereign powers over western states’ territories. Although Montana did not sign onto the lawsuit, Millett expects the state to file it in federal district court after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Utah’s case. Critics of the bill questioned Montana’s involvement in a Utah land dispute and expressed concerns about potential privatization of public lands in the state. The Backcountry Horsemen Club, represented by Mark Deopsomer, opposed the legislation, fearing it could lead to a broader movement to shift control of federal public lands to states. The committee’s vote divided along party lines, with all Democrats opposing the resolution.
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