With no debate, the House has passed SB 1277a, legislation to authorize the state to again start doing land exchanges with state-owned cottage sites at Priest and Payette lakes that are part of the state’s land endowment. Exchanges were halted earlier this year after legal questions were raised about whether the state could legally trade the sites for land that wasn’t “similar” – such as timber land, grazing land, or other property used for purposes other than summer homes. The bill says such trades are OK, but adds a limitation: The state couldn’t trade endowment land for “lands that have as their primary value buildings or other structures, unless said buildings or other structures are continually used by a public entity for a public purpose.”

The vote was 63-1, with just Rep. Doug Hancey, R-Rexburg, objecting. The measure already passed the Senate, and now goes to Gov. Butch Otter.