Senate OKs bill on funds for tribes' revitalization

The Senate on Monday gave unanimous support to a bill that boosts the caps on the Navajo and Uintah Basin revitalization funds.

The funds each rely on state severance taxes from oil and gas revenues on the reservations.

The 26-0 vote in favor of a substitute version of HB87 would mean the Navajo fund's annual cap would increase from $2 million to $4 million. The Uintah Basin fund's cap would increase from $3 to $6 million.

The Navajo fund has been used to provide housing, power and water lines. The Ute fund has been used to purchase land for education buildings, including a Head Start facility.

The bill replaces two bills, HB19 and HB138, that had dealt with each fund individually. Because of its fiscal impact, HB87, still must be prioritized.