HJM 05: Selling Federal Land – 2019

House Joint Memorial 5, sponsored by Rep. Terry Gestrin (R-Donnelly) argues that Idahoans in rural communities are being hurt by the sale of private land to the federal government. Therefore, it urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that the federal government sell land of equal market value when private land is sold within a county.

Neither state nor federal lands are taxable, which means that counties generally oppose federal or state acquisition of lands. But access to public lands is often cited as a benefit to local communities and is a big driver for economic growth. As the nation’s fastest growing state, we should be working to protect and enhance public access, not encouraging privatization of public lands.

HJM 5 died for lack of a motion in the Senate Resources and Environment Committee on March 18, 2019.

ICL is looking forward to working with the sponsors of HJM 5 to address the myriad issues facing rural counties.