Federal land transfer faces local opposition

Two bills that seek the transfer of federal lands to state ownership have gathered criticism and opposition from local officials.

The two bills, House Bill 209 and Senate File 56, both deal with the topic of the state owning federal lands. The senate file, approved by the senate appropriations committee last week, would commission a study and report addressing a transfer in the management of public lands to the state. Senator John Hastert (D-Green River) was the only member of the appropriations committee voting against the senate file.

House Bill 209, which was approved by the house judic...