A bill that would help the city of North Salt Lake in a battle with Salt Lake City over 80 acres of foothill open space passed 4-2 out of the Senate Government Operations Committee on Friday.

SB130 would allow North Salt Lake to annex the land into its city without permission. While the property is owned by North Salt Lake, the land is within Salt Lake City's boundaries.

Last year, the two cities sued each other over control of the land. Salt Lake City, which wants to preserve the land as open space, filed suit to condemn the land so it couldn't be developed. North Salt Lake filed suit to disconnect the land from Salt Lake City.

A trial date for North Salt Lake's lawsuit is scheduled for later this month. SB130 now moves to the Senate floor for debate.