House Joint Resolution No. introduced by T. Millett expresses the support of the Montana Legislature for the State of Utah in its legal challenge against the federal government's policy of retaining unappropriated public lands. The resolution highlights that approximately 69% of Utah's land is federally owned, with a significant portion being unappropriated and not utilized for any specific purpose. This situation, according to Utah, undermines its sovereignty and ability to govern effectively, as it cannot tax or exercise eminent domain over these lands. The resolution asserts that the federal government's indefinite retention of these lands is unconstitutional and disrupts the balance of power between the federal government and the states.

Furthermore, the resolution states that Montana also faces similar issues, with about 30% of its land being federally owned, including unappropriated lands. It emphasizes that this federal policy denies Montana equal statehood and representation, and calls for a restriction on federal land ownership to resolve separation of powers conflicts. The Montana Legislature urges Utah to continue its legal efforts to declare the federal policy unconstitutional, thereby supporting Utah's pursuit of a bill of complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Utah.