The Utah Legislature has signed off on a court settlement that would send $33 million to the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation for alleged state mismanagement of a reservation oil royalties trust fund.

The Senate on Wednesday approved HJR32, already approved by the House, that would end a two-decade dispute that Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, said had embarrassed the state since before he was in the Legislature.

"We have exposure for significantly more than this amount," Valentine said in backing the settlement.

Congress created a Utah Navajo Trust Fund in 1933 to hold royalties generated at the Aneth oil fields for the benefit of San Juan County Navajos. It started receiving substantial oil revenues in 1955. The Utah Navajos were to receive 37½ percent of the royalties, while the rest went to Navajo Nation headquarters in Window Rock, Ariz.

At times in the court battle attorneys for the Navajos have estimated the state owed $150 million, including interest, though the state showed some of the money was spent properly. Gov. Gary Herbert brokered the court deal to end the battle.

Brandon Loomis