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SF0040

Wyoming Law on Agricultural Roads on Federal Land

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This law allows certain roads on federal land that existed before October 1976 and provide access to private homes or farms to become public highways if the local county accepts them.

What it does

  • Amends Wyoming law to define which roads on federal public lands can be public highways.
  • Identifies roads located on federal public lands prior to October 1976 that provide access to a private residence or agricultural operation.
  • States that these specific roads become highways only if the local board of county commissioners accepts them.
  • Exempts these accepted roads from the standard legal procedures usually required to establish new highways.
  • Sets the effective date of the law as July 1, 2010.

Who it affects

  • Boards of county commissioners in Wyoming counties.
  • Owners of private residences or agricultural operations that use roads on federal public lands.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law only applies to roads that existed on federal lands before October 1976.
  • The road must provide access to a private residence or an agricultural operation to qualify.
  • The road does not become a highway automatically; it requires acceptance by the local county commissioners.

Plain language

Terms to know

Federal public lands
Land owned by the U.S. government.
Board of county commissioners
The local government body in a county that makes decisions about roads and public services.
Highway
A public road that is officially established and maintained for public use.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Read the official summary

Bill No.: <billno> Drafter: <drafterinit> Bill No.: SF0040 Drafter: IDS LSO No.: 10LSO-0024 Effective Date: 7/1/2010 Enrolled Act No.: SEA0041 Chapter No.: Prime Sponsor: Senator Cooper Catch Title: Establishment of highways. Subject: Designation of highways. Summary/Major Elements: Until 1976, federal law R.S. 2477 recognized the authority of counties to regulate roadways on federal lands if the roadway was adopted as a county road under Wyoming's 1926 law, W.S. 24-1-101. R.S. 2477 was repealed in 1976, but contained clauses preserving the counties' regulatory powers over all "valid" rights of way "existing on the date of approval of the [FLPMA]." The FLPMA is the law which replaced R.S. 2477 and which withdrew the authority of counties to regulate county roads on federal property, unless previously regulated pursuant to R.S. 2477. This legislation amends W.S. 24-1-101(a) which is the law that defines and establishes public roadways in Wyoming. The law is amended to declare as public roadways, "roads located on federal public lands prior to October, 1976 which provide access for a private residence or agricultural operation." Such roadways must be accepted by the board of county commissioners where the road is located prior to being considered a public roadway. This legislation attempts to bring under county control various Wyoming roadways that are currently being regulated by the B.L.M and other federal agencies.

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 6:38 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the concurrence because the amendment clarifies that county commissioners must accept roads and can only do so within their own counties.

Public statementFloor statement at 31:58 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because it allows county commissions to declare roads on public land without safeguards, potentially harming operators and bypassing legal procedures for ways of necessity.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:09:02 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it clarifies that the legislation applies only to federal public lands, not private land takings, and helps counties manage road maintenance costs.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:13:00 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports passing the bill to provide local county commissioners with control over access on public lands, addressing a recurring issue for many counties.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:14:27 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it provides necessary access to public lands for sportsmen and the mineral industry, which are currently being blocked.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:14:50 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because designating highways across federal lands could damage critical wildlife habitat or interfere with agricultural operations grazing cattle and sheep.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:17:18 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

6 roll calls

S Did Concur 26-4-0-0-02010-03-04 · Senate26 yes 4 no
H Passed 3rd Reading 32-25-3-0-02010-03-03 · House32 yes 25 no
H08 Recommended Do Pass 7-1-1-0-02010-02-24 · House7 yes 1 no
S Passed 3rd Reading 17-12-1-0-02010-02-12 · Senate17 yes 12 no
S08 Recommended Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02010-02-09 · Senate5 yes 0 no
S Introduced and Referred to S08 24-6-0-0-02010-02-08 · Senate24 yes 6 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Assigned Chapter Number - 89LSO
  2. Governor Signed SEA0041Governor
  3. H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0041House
  4. S President Signed SEA No. 0041Senate
  5. Assigned Number SEA0041LSO
  6. S Did ConcurSenate
  7. S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
  8. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  9. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  10. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  11. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  12. H Passed CoWHouse
  13. H Placed on General FileHouse
  14. H08 Recommended Do PassHouse
  15. H Introduced and Referred to H08House
  16. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  17. S Passed 3rd ReadingSenate
  18. S Passed 2nd ReadingSenate
  19. S Passed CoWSenate
  20. S Placed on General FileSenate

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

SF0040H2001

Adopted 2nd reading by BROWN

SF0040H3001

Withdrawn 3rd reading by GINGERY