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Historic Roadways Protection Act
12/3/2025, 12:03 PM
Summary of Bill S 90
The bill is a response to concerns raised by some Utah residents and lawmakers about the potential impact of these travel management plans on access to public lands for recreational purposes. Supporters of the bill argue that the plans could restrict access to certain areas and limit opportunities for outdoor recreation in Utah.
If passed, the bill would effectively halt the finalization and implementation of these travel management plans in Utah, giving lawmakers and stakeholders more time to review and potentially revise the plans to address any concerns. Overall, Bill 119 s 90 is a contentious piece of legislation that highlights the ongoing debate over the management of public lands and the balance between conservation and recreational use. It will be interesting to see how lawmakers navigate these issues and whether the bill ultimately becomes law.
Congressional Summary of S 90
Historic Roadways Protection Act
This bill prohibits the Bureau for Land Management (BLM) from closing historical roads on public lands in certain areas of Utah until the Federal District Court for Utah makes a decision on each of the R.S. 2477 cases, which are cases brought by Utah and counties to keep historical roads on BLM land in Utah open for public use.
By way of background, a provision of the Mining Law of 1866, commonly known as R.S. 2477, granted rights-of-way to states and counties across public lands for the construction of roads for public use in order to promote settlement of the American West. In 1976, Congress repealed R.S. 2477 when it enacted the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), but FLPMA preserved rights-of-way that had been established under R.S. 2477. After the BLM released travel management plans that closed some historical roads, Utah and 22 counties filed lawsuits about their rights-of-way across public lands for historical roads.
Until the BLM certifies that those cases have been decided, the bill prohibits the BLM from obligating or expending federal funds to (1) finalize or implement a new travel management plan for certain travel management areas in Utah; or (2) implement, with respect to land within the boundary of Utah, the Indian Creek (Canyon Rims) Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Desert Travel Management Plan, the San Rafael Swell Travel Management Plan, or the Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan.
Read the Full Bill
Current Status of Bill S 90
Bipartisan Support of Bill S 90
Total Number of Sponsors
1Democrat Sponsors
0Republican Sponsors
1Unaffiliated Sponsors
0Total Number of Cosponsors
1Democrat Cosponsors
0Republican Cosponsors
1Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 90
Primary Policy Focus
Public Lands and Natural ResourcesPotential Impact Areas
Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 90
Comments
Elisha Swanson
10 months ago
This bill is so sad, it's gonna hurt the environment in Utah. Why they do this? What gonna happen now?
