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School and institutional trust lands are properties the state manages to generate money for public schools and other institutions, and this bill would create a new process allowing certain smaller counties—those classified as fourth, fifth, or sixth class, generally less populous counties—that have trust lands within their borders to nominate sites on that land with archaeological, historical, paleontological, or scientific value for possible preservation. To nominate a site, a county's legislative body would need to submit a map, evidence of the site's significance, documentation of public input, a supporting county resolution, and a proposed preservation method such as purchase, land exchange, or conservation easement; nominated sites could not exceed 640 acres and could not include land containing coal, oil, gas, minerals, or geothermal resources. The director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration would be required to notify eligible counties of this opportunity by January 1, 2027, and would have to approve nominations that meet the requirements, while retaining discretion to reject those that don't and to work with counties to resolve deficiencies. If an approved site later faces a risk of being altered—for example, through development—the director could take steps to protect it, such as restricting development plans when commercially feasible, notifying prospective buyers or developers, or using deed restrictions, as long as those actions remain consistent with the trust's existing fiduciary duty to generate revenue for its beneficiaries.