LAW & POLICY PROGRAM
Established in 2012, the Stegner Center’s Law and Policy Program provides actionable and pragmatic research on emerging issues affecting public lands, agency decision making, indigenous peoples, resource management, and climate change. We aim to provide real time analysis that protects the environment and promotes a just and democratic society through wise and thoughtful policies.
Great Salt Lake legislative update: March 5, 2025
Mar 05, 2025The 2025 Utah state legislative session is drawing to a close. Great Salt Lake is still far from being saved, but some progress has been made. Since our first legislative update, some bills relating to Great Salt Lake have passed, some are still expected to pass before the end of the session, and others have failed.
Great Salt Lake legislative update: Feb. 18, 2025
Feb 18, 2025In hopes of demystifying the proposed legislation this session and its potential import, we will produce three legislative updates over the course of the 2025 session and analyze key bills that could impact the lake, either directly or indirectly.
Shrinking the federal workforce will not promote permitting efficiency
Feb 07, 2025Efficiency is a concept on everyone’s mind. Prior to the inauguration, permit reform proposals looked for ways to improve permitting efficiency, often with Republicans blaming environmental laws for delaying infrastructure and energy projects.
Associate Professor Jamie Pleune appointed to Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Rule Advisory Committee
Jan 21, 2025Associate Professor Jamie Pleune has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to serve as alternate public-at-large representative on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule Resource Advisory Committee.
The Law & Policy Team












PRINCIPAL SPONSORS
The ESRR Endowment Fund for the
Wallace Stegner Center
Wilburforce Foundation
The Law and Policy Program produces research under contract with various federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. State Department. We also depend on gifts and grants from generous supporters. The Stegner Center is solely responsible for the content of our research and the views expressed in our publications do not necessarily represent those of any governmental entity or funder. Donors exercise no substantive or editorial control over our research or recommendations.