On Wednesday, Jan. 21, Sen. Ben Adams, R-Nampa, proposed an amendment to the Idaho state constitution to prevent new public lands acquisition by the state from being sold.
The amendment, which would apply to any new land received by the state from the federal government would ensure the security of those lands from permanent impairment.
Adams, having been involved with the legislature since 2020, said to the Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday that public opinion helped to shape his proposal, according to the Idaho Capital Sun.
“I wanted feedback. I wanted a lot of feedback, because it deals with a very personal matter for every Idahoan, and that is our public land here in Idaho,” Adams said.
Though the amendment was originally introduced in August and has since undergone minor alterations, the intent behind it, Adams claims, remains the same.
While the changes would be applicable to land acquired in the future, it would not affect the 2.5 million acres of state endowment lands that could still be sold.
“I do not anticipate that the amendment will make waves, but I do hope that it ignites interest in and conversations about public lands, public lands policy and their impact on people and communities,” said Chelsea Pennick, associate director of the University of Idaho policy analysis group and research assistant professor of natural resources policy and administration.
Pennick said she does not have high expectations that the amendment would be approved by voting Idahoans, but recognizes it indicates change.
“Based on the response of Idahoans and westerners to Sen. Lee’s proposal to sell off public lands, I would not expect the majority of Idahoans to vote in favor of this bill,” Pennick continued. “However, I do believe the persistence of proposals like this does indicate a need to revisit some of the public land policies to gauge whether they are working for states, for local communities, for local governments and for citizens at large.”
For the amendment to be passed, it must first be approved by two-thirds of the legislature. If they vote in favor of the change, it would appear on the 2026 Idaho ballot and would require a simple majority.
Jack Adams, an international studies major and avid outdoor enthusiast at UI, believes that public lands are critical to all those who utilize them.
“I like to think that most people in Idaho would think the same as I do in that way, but I also think that there is a wealth disparity gap, and those who truly enjoy the great outdoors are also not the ones who are trying to buy it,” he said.
Paige Wilton can be reached at [email protected].