DENVER – The Senate on Tuesday advanced a measure that would clarify state jurisdiction over federal lands.
Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, supported the bill, which passed on a party-line vote of 18-16. It now faces an uphill climb in the Democratic-controlled House.
The measure has been mired in controversy, with some hunters and anglers and conservationists – many from Southwest Colorado – suggesting that the measure is a step toward the state taking control of federal lands, which they worry could lead to shutting down precious recreational areas because of costs associated with management.
But Roberts disagreed, stating, “The bill was mischaracterized as a land grab, and I don’t see it as that. I do see it much more about inviting emergency services to protect the people who live close to federal lands,” said Roberts, who pointed out that she lives near federal land and experienced the catastrophic 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire.
Senate Bill 39 would allow Colorado to exercise authority along with the federal government over federal public lands. Sen. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, said he sponsored the measure in an effort to give local jurisdictions more of a voice when it comes to criminal investigations and fighting wildfires on federal lands.
But critics point out that the language of the measure is similar to a proposal pushed by the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council. A loud chorus of opponents echo concerns that the measure is a step in a conservative movement to force the federal government to hand Western lands over to the states.
The issue hit a tipping point Tuesday on Twitter, where several critics of the legislation suggested that it would “seize public lands.” That prompted a frustrated Senate Republican staffer, from the caucus’ official @ColoSenGOP account, to retort that those critics were “lying.” Some didn’t take too kindly to the reply, criticizing Senate Republicans for being “inappropriate” and “insulting.”
Nothing in the bill actually would hand control of federal lands over to the state. But opponents worry about a shot across the bow. A separate bill, Senate Bill 232, would implement a study group to examine allowing the state to take over management of federal lands. That bill is scheduled for a hearing by a Senate committee Thursday.