Public Trail Amendments

HB 595 creates a formal process for designating existing recreational trails on public land as "state trails" in Utah. It defines key terms, requires applicants to submit written applications to the Division of Outdoor Recreation, and mandates that the Division evaluate applications while seeking input from affected counties, municipalities, local legislators, and relevant state agencies. The bill establishes that local opposition or potential legal conflicts can block a trail designation, and it assigns management responsibility for state trails to the Division of Outdoor Recreation (or public land management agencies after 2026). This directly affects trail users, local governments, and land managers by standardizing how trails gain official status and are maintained.