Keeping Law SimpleLegislation, clearly explained
Back to Wyoming
Wyoming2010Did Not Pass

HJ0010

Wyoming Joint Resolution on Water Rights

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This resolution asks the U.S. Congress to reaffirm that Wyoming has the primary authority to manage its own water resources.

What it does

  • States that Wyoming maintains sovereignty over water control under the Tenth Amendment.
  • Requests that the federal government stop enacting mandates that exceed its constitutional powers regarding water.
  • References the Clean Water Act and the Wallop Amendment to support state authority over water quantities.
  • Expresses concern that a proposed federal amendment would expand federal jurisdiction over all waters in Wyoming.
  • Requires the Wyoming Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to federal leaders.

Who it affects

  • The U.S. Congress and the federal government.
  • The Wyoming State Legislature.
  • The Wyoming Secretary of State.
  • The Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

Limits and unknowns

  • This is a joint resolution, which expresses the state's position but does not create new binding laws for the federal government.
  • The bill did not pass in the Senate, so it did not become an official state action in that session.
  • The resolution requests action from Congress but cannot force Congress to change federal laws.

Plain language

Terms to know

Primacy of water rights
The idea that the state has the main authority to decide how much water is used and by whom.
Tenth Amendment
A part of the U.S. Constitution that says powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people.
Wallop Amendment
A 1980 change to federal law stating that state authority to allocate water quantities should not be overridden by federal law.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 6:25 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker argues that federal attempts to amend the Clean Water Act threaten Wyoming's constitutional authority over its water resources. They support the resolution to reaffirm state primacy and oppose redefining navigable waters as 'waters of the United States'.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:06:38 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

4 roll calls

S05 Recommended Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02010-02-26 · Senate5 yes 0 no
Yes
5
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Austin "Kit" JenningsS28Eli D BeboutS26Gerald E GeisS20James E Elliott Jr.S11Wayne H JohnsonS06
H Passed 3rd Reading 56-2-2-0-02010-02-22 · House56 yes 2 no
Yes
56
No
2
Absent
0
Excused
2
Conflict
0

Yes 56

Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Bryan K PedersenH07Colin SimpsonH24David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Del McOmieH54Dn.Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03George BagbyH15Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Jack D Landon Jr.H30James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Joseph M BarbutoH48Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Mary A ThroneH11Mary W HalesH36Matt TeetersH05Michael A GilmoreH59Michael K MaddenH40Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Robert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Seth A CarsonH45Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Terry L KimbleH49Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47W. Patrick P GogglesH33Zwonitzer

No 2

Catherine R ConnollyH13Pete JorgensenH16

Excused 2

Frank PhilpH34Timothy P HallinanH32
H05 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 8-1-0-0-02010-02-18 · House8 yes 1 no
Yes
8
No
1
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 8

Amy L EdmondsH12Glenn W MonizH46Mark SemlekH01Matt TeetersH05Seth A CarsonH45Stanley L BlakeH39Sue E WallisH52Zwonitzer

No 1

Michael A GilmoreH59
H Introduced and Referred to H05 53-4-3-0-02010-02-11 · House53 yes 4 no
Yes
53
No
4
Absent
0
Excused
3
Conflict
0

Yes 53

Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bernadine CraftH17Bill ThompsonH60Bryan K PedersenH07Colin SimpsonH24David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Del McOmieH54Dn.Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Frank D PeasleyH03George BagbyH15Glenn W MonizH46Gregory R BlikreH53Jack D Landon Jr.H30James A RoscoeH22James W ByrdH44John D Bonner Jr.H25John W PattonH29Joseph M BarbutoH48Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Lisa A SheppersonH58Lori A MillinH08Lorraine K QuarbergH28Mark SemlekH01Matt TeetersH05Michael A GilmoreH59Michael K MaddenH40Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Richard L CannadyH06Robert A BrechtelH38Robert M McKimH21Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Roy CoheeH35Seth A CarsonH45Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Terry L KimbleH49Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47Zwonitzer

No 4

Catherine R ConnollyH13Mary W HalesH36Pete JorgensenH16W. Patrick P GogglesH33

Excused 3

Frank PhilpH34Mary A ThroneH11Timothy P HallinanH32

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S Placed on General File; Did not Consider in CoWSenate
  2. S05 Recommended Do PassSenate
  3. S Introduced and Referred to S05Senate
  4. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  5. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  6. H Advanced to 3rd Reading on Same DayHouse
  7. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  8. H Passed CoWHouse
  9. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  10. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  11. H Placed on General FileHouse
  12. H05 Recommended Amend and Do PassHouse
  13. H Introduced and Referred to H05House
  14. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  15. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

1 stored

HJ0010HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by H05