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HB0047

Wyoming Attorney General Review of Federal Environmental Laws

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would require the Wyoming Attorney General to investigate or sue the federal government over compliance with environmental laws like NEPA and the Endangered Species Act.

What it does

  • Requires the Attorney General to investigate potential lawsuits against the federal government or initiate legal action.
  • Allows the Attorney General to file lawsuits, file amicus curiae briefs, or intervene in existing cases, prioritizing cases in Wyoming but allowing action in any U.S. state.
  • Authorizes the Attorney General to seek damages or other relief if federal agencies fail to follow the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or the Endangered Species Act.
  • Specifically authorizes legal action regarding the relisting of wolves on the Endangered Species Act.
  • Allows the Attorney General to request funds from the federal natural resources policy account for these duties.
  • Requires the Attorney General to report to state legislative committees by January 1, 2011, on compensation received and benefits to the state.

Who it affects

  • The Wyoming Attorney General.
  • Federal government agencies subject to NEPA and the Endangered Species Act.
  • Wyoming state legislative committees on agriculture, public lands, water resources, and appropriations.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass the Senate and was indefinitely postponed on March 1, 2010.
  • The bill text provided is a working draft, so final language may have differed if it had passed.

Plain language

Terms to know

NEPA
The National Environmental Policy Act, a federal law that requires government agencies to assess environmental impacts before making decisions.
Endangered Species Act
A federal law that protects threatened and endangered wildlife and their habitats.
Amicus curiae brief
A legal document filed by a non-party to provide additional information or arguments to a court.
Federal natural resources policy account
A state fund created under Wyoming law (W.S. 9-4-218) to hold money related to federal natural resources policies.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 6:36 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill to formally direct the Attorney General to investigate federal actions under NEPA and ESA that impact Wyoming's economic interests, including potential litigation for damages.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:42:06 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes passing the bill as written because it may restrict the Attorney General's strategic flexibility in choosing which lawsuits to pursue, potentially leading to adverse legal outcomes.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:46:11 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because it delegates litigation authority to an unelected Attorney General rather than keeping that decision-making power with the elected Governor who is accountable for such actions.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:49:51 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because it allows the Attorney General to access funding outside of the Governor's control, creating a dangerous independent budget for litigation that may not serve the public interest.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:51:41 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill as a method to utilize existing federal law to ensure agencies handling public lands involve states in their processes and listen to state concerns.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:45:41 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

5 roll calls

S Failed CoW; Indef Postponed 7-23-0-0-02010-03-01 · Senate7 yes 23 no
Yes
7
No
23
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 7

Austin "Kit" JenningsS28Curtis MeierS03Dan DockstaderR · S16Eli D BeboutS26Henry R CoeS18Ray R PetersonS19Stan CooperS14

No 23

Bill LandenR · S27Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chuck TownsendS01Drew A PerkinsS29Floyd EsquibelS08Gerald E GeisS20Grant C LarsonS17James E Elliott Jr.S11Jim AndersonS02John C SchifferS22John HastertS13John J HinesS23Kathryn L SessionsS07Marty A MartinS12Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Mike MassieS09Phil A NicholasS10Rick D HunnicuttS05Saundra MeyerS15Tony RossS04Wayne H JohnsonS06
S06 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 4-1-0-0-02010-02-25 · Senate4 yes 1 no
Yes
4
No
1
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 4

Austin "Kit" JenningsS28Dan DockstaderR · S16Henry R CoeS18Saundra MeyerS15

No 1

Bruce Burns Jr.S21
H Passed 3rd Reading 47-10-3-0-02010-02-22 · House47 yes 10 no
Yes
47
No
10
Absent
0
Excused
3
Conflict
0

Yes 47

Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Bryan K PedersenH07Colin SimpsonH24David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Del McOmieH54Dv.Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03George BagbyH15Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Jack D Landon Jr.H30James W ByrdH44John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Joseph M BarbutoH48Kathleen DavisonH20Ken A EsquibelH41Lisa A SheppersonH58Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Robert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Terry L KimbleH49Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33

No 10

Catherine R ConnollyH13Dn.James A RoscoeH22Keith M GingeryH23Kermit C BrownH14Lori A MillinH08Mary W HalesH36Michael A GilmoreH59Pete JorgensenH16Seth A CarsonH45

Excused 3

Frank PhilpH34Mary A ThroneH11Timothy P HallinanH32
H06 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 5-3-0-1-02010-02-17 · House5 yes 3 no
Yes
5
No
3
Absent
1
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Allen M JaggiH18John D Bonner Jr.H25Kathleen DavisonH20Lisa A SheppersonH58Pat ChildersH50

No 3

Bill ThompsonH60Catherine R ConnollyH13Lori A MillinH08

Absent 1

Kermit C BrownH14
H Introduced and Referred to H06 44-14-2-0-02010-02-09 · House44 yes 14 no
Yes
44
No
14
Absent
0
Excused
2
Conflict
0

Yes 44

Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bryan K PedersenH07Colin SimpsonH24David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Del McOmieH54Dv.Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03George BagbyH15Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Jack D Landon Jr.H30John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Joseph M BarbutoH48Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Lisa A SheppersonH58Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Matt TeetersH05Michael K MaddenH40Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Richard L CannadyH06Robert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Terry L KimbleH49Thomas A LockhartH57Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47

No 14

Bill ThompsonH60Catherine R ConnollyH13Dn.James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44Lori A MillinH08Mary A ThroneH11Mary W HalesH36Michael A GilmoreH59Pete JorgensenH16Peter S IllowayH42Seth A CarsonH45Timothy M StubsonH56W. Patrick P GogglesH33

Excused 2

Frank PhilpH34Timothy P HallinanH32

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S Failed CoW; Indef PostponedSenate
  2. S Amendments AdoptedSenate
  3. Amendment AdoptedSenate
  4. S Placed on General FileSenate
  5. S06 Recommended Amend and Do PassSenate
  6. S Introduced and Referred to S06Senate
  7. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  8. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  9. H Advanced to 3rd Reading on Same DayHouse
  10. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  11. H Passed CoWHouse
  12. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  13. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  14. H Placed on General FileHouse
  15. H06 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
  16. H Introduced and Referred to H06House
  17. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  18. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

HB0047HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by H06

HB0047SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by BURNS