The United States owes the majority of the land in Utah.  Gary Herbert, the state’s Governor, and the Utah legislature think Utah should own some of the federal government’s land.  The legislature passed two laws signed by the Governor that direct the State of Utah to use its power of eminent domain to acquire ownership of some of the U.S.’s most valuable state land.  The Utah legislature and Governor believe that federal ownership of the land restricts development.  Eminent domain is a legal method used by governments to acquire land for public use.