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 regarding the retention of unappropriated public lands. The resolution highlights that approximately 69% of Utah's land is federally owned, with a significant portion being unappropriated and not designated for any specific use. This situation, according to Utah, undermines its sovereignty by preventing the state from exercising powers such as taxation and eminent domain over these lands. The resolution argues that the federal government's policy of retaining these lands is unconstitutional and disrupts the balance of power between the federal government and the states.

Furthermore, the resolution asserts that Montana faces a similar issue, with about 30% of its land also federally owned, and calls for a restriction on federal land ownership to restore state sovereignty and representation. It urges Utah to continue its legal efforts to declare the federal policy of perpetual land retention unconstitutional, specifically referencing 43 U.S.C. 1701(a)(1). The resolution concludes by directing the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to various state and federal officials, emphasizing the collaborative stance of Montana in support of Utah's legal position.