Keep Public Land Public

America's Public Lands Are in Real Danger, and Utah is Leading the Charge!

Utah is at the center of a decades-long, well-funded campaign to transfer public lands—owned by all Americans—from federal stewardship to state control. Opponents warn that such a transfer could open the door to privatization and the loss of public access. If successful, Utah's approach could become a blueprint for similar efforts across the West and beyond.

Make Public Lands a Local, State, and National Campaign Issue!

Know the facts and Understand the Issues

Exposing Utah's Land Transfer Strategy

Transcript

2020 Transfer of Public Lands Movement study

Video

Public Land Transfer Myths: 3 minute video

Analysis of a Transfer of Federal Lands to the State of Utah

Opinion: Thanks to Utah, Americans are about to lose their public lands

The coordinated and escalating threat facing our public lands demands national attention

Published: Deseret News Jan 16, 2026, 12:38 p.m. MST

Utah’s Efforts to Gain Control over Federal Lands Persist

Although the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Utah’s initial lawsuit and a proposed land sale amendment was removed from a broader legislative package, state leaders remain committed to exploring alternative approaches. These may include renewed legal action, new legislative strategies, attempts to sway federal land management policies, and continued misinformation campaigns paid for with taxpayer money.

Watch for:

1. Utah’s Misinformation Campaign: In 2024, Utah launched a taxpayer-funded $2 million PR campaign, called “Stand for Our Land,” which targeted both local and national audiences with ads in major Utah newspapers, on billboards, local TV, and social media. National efforts included outreach to officials in Washington, D.C., placing ads in national news media, pitching stories to media, and running ads on social media.

2. Legal Action: While the Supreme Court declined to hear the original case, Utah still has the option to refile the suit in a lower federal court or bring additional lawsuits.

3. Legislative Strategy: In 2005, legislators established the Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, whose mission is “To coordinate, promote, and implement Utah’s public land priorities,” and to participate in decision-making discussions at the federal, state, and local levels. Lawmakers may seek to include land transfer language in unrelated congressional bills or pursue new state legislation aimed at pushing back on federal control of public lands.

4. Federal Policy Influence: Utah officials are also expected to keep lobbying the federal government, aiming to shift federal land management in their favor. This could involve collaborating with supportive members of Congress, advocating for policy changes at the national level, and disputing specific decisions made by federal land agencies.

What history shows us about Utah’s push to take control of federal lands

States don’t have a legal right to America’s public land

Original Land Titles in Utah Territory

Utah Statehood

Utah Statehood Enabling Act

Article III Utah Constitution

Enclave Clause: Enumerated Powers

Property Clause

Supremacy Clause

HB 143 Eminent Domain Authority /Legal Review

Eminent Domain Authority for Federal Lands Act Exposed

HB148 Transfer of Public Lands Act/ Legal Review

What is the Utah Enabling Act of 1894 and why is it part of a public lands fight?

Western Attorneys General Litigation Action Committee

National System of Public Lands

Public Land Transfer Disinformation

The document discusses Utah's Transfer of Public Lands Act, which calls on the federal government to transfer ownership of most federal lands in Utah back to the state. It provides background on land ownership in Utah, noting that the federal government owns about two-thirds of the state's land. It then makes the case that the Transfer Act is constitutional and consistent with the original intent of Utah's founding, when the federal government was expected to eventually dispose of public lands. It argues that interpreting Utah's Enabling Act and the U.S. Constitution in their original contexts supports the validity of the Transfer Act.

Sutherland Legal Analysis of UT HB 148 and Recommended Reading

The Objective: To leverage a start-up investment of at least $250,000 into tens of millions in earned media regarding our public lands history and rights toward forging the collective "1828 Resolve" of local, state, and congressional leaders to compel the federal government to honor its promise to the western states--the same promise it made and kept with all states east of Colorado.

The Game Plan: In response to Utah's public lands offensive with the Transfer of Public Lands Act, several counties, municipalities, other organizations and leaders throughout the West have come together to form the American Lands Council {"ALC,"a non-profit 501(c)(4) pending} to secure and defend local control over issues of land access, land use, and land ownership.

Utah Stand for Our Land Campaign

American Lands Council

Federalist Society A Legal Overview of Utah's H.B. 148: The Transfer of Public Lands Act

ALEC the State Factor: Federally Managed Lands in the West...

National Center for Constitutional Studies

Statehood: The Territorial Imperative

Public Lands are Economic Drivers

National Parks Contributed Record High $55.6 Billion to U.S. economy

How do National Parks Affect the Economy?

Op-Ed | Secretary Burgum's Acting Irresponsibly

Cuts to national parks: “worst idea we ever had”

The Coalition to Protect America's National Parks

Outdoor Recreation Economy Data Release and Webinar

Understanding Outdoor Recreation Economy Numbers 2021

US Department of Commerce BEA: Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, U.S. and States, 2023

THE OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY

The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State

‘Trump Slump’ Looms as Foreign Visitors Rethink Travel to U.S.

Utah’s Outdoor Recreation Economy Breaks Records, Reaching $9.5 Billion

Federal Employment in Utah

This Utah park reclaimed the top spot as national park visitation, rallied in 2024

Public lands in Utah take two steps forward and one step back

More Background Information

Public lands, private profits: Inside the Trump plan to offload federal land

Republicans want to sell off your public lands...

Project 2025 is a Nightmare for America's Public Lands...

Trump’s Gift to America

Trump's national parks proposal: Cut $1 billion, transfer many sites to states

Trump's DOJ takes aim at the Antiquities Act

A G.O.P. Plan to Sell Public Land Is Back. This Time, It’s Millions of Acres.

DOJ says Trump can revoke national monuments. What does that mean for Utah?

Could Trump Sell Your Public Lands? Absolutely

Trump Quietly Plans To Liquidate Public Lands To Finance His Sovereign Wealth Fund

Public Land Sell Offs Are Back as House Rules Package Contains Giveaway Provision

Public Lands Face New State Takeover Attempts

Public Lands Enemies

Act Now for Public Lands: Newsclips

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke Opposes Selling Public Land

Reps. Vasquez (D-NM-2) & Zinke (R-MT-1) Launch Congressional Public Lands Caucus

Rep. Stansbury: The GOP refuses to speak up on the impacts of their reconcilation bill

Everything about this Reconciliation bill in Natural Resources is a total lie

@REPSTANSBURY Reconcilliation Bill

Senator Heinrich on Economic Value of Public Lands to New Mexico

Western voters reject Trump agenda on public lands

Desire for conservation is a unifying issue for voters in the West

Conservation in the West Poll

Conservation and Public Lands in the West

Reps. Vasquez (D-NM) and Zinke (R-MT) move to ban sale of most public lands

This Land is My Land: Utah's Supreme Court Challenge to Federal Land Ownership

NEWS ADVISORY Utah Files Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Federal Control...

'The right time' — Cox, Reyes file Supreme Court lawsuit claiming 18.5M acres of federal land

The Utah Lawsuit that could change the face of the West

The feds own millions of acres of public land in Utah...

Motion for Leave to File Bill of Complaint

Brief of U.S. Senators Mike Lee, Mitt Romney, and Other Western Members of Congress

In the Supreme Court of the United States State of Utah, Plaintiff v. United States of America

Taxpayer Funded Lawsuit and Stand For Our Land Let Utah Manage Utah Land Disinformation Campaign

Utah filed a lawsuit based on dubious legal theories, backed by a taxpayer-funded PR campaign called “Stand for Our Land – Let Utah Manage Utah Land.” This campaign spreads misleading claims about American history, the U.S. Constitution, and the role of public lands—confusing both citizens and lawmakers across the country.

Why Utah is asking for clarity from the U.S. Supreme Court

Novel approach: Why is Utah advertising its public lands lawsuit across the country?

Stand For Our Land Campaign