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SF0056

Study on Management of Public Lands in Wyoming

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This law requires the Office of State Lands and Investments to study how the state of Wyoming could manage specific federally administered public lands and report the findings to the legislature.

What it does

  • Requires the Office of State Lands and Investments to commission a study on managing specified federally administered public lands in Wyoming by the state of Wyoming.
  • Requires the study to identify the lands, list current rights and uses, and create a management plan based on multiple use and sustained yield.
  • Requires an economic analysis comparing the costs of state management versus federal management and identifying potential revenue sources, including fees to charge the federal government.
  • Excludes congressionally designated wilderness areas, national conservation areas, and lands managed by the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or National Park Service from the study.
  • Appropriates $75,000 from the General Fund specifically for the study and hiring consultants, with unused funds reverting to the state on June 30, 2017.
  • Requires the Office of State Lands and Investments to submit a final report to the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee by November 30, 2016.

Who it affects

  • The Office of State Lands and Investments, which must conduct the study, hire consultants, and submit the report.
  • The Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee, which must receive the report and consider developing new legislation.
  • The state of Wyoming and its political subdivisions, which are the subjects of the economic analysis regarding costs and revenues.

Limits and unknowns

  • The study does not cover congressionally designated wilderness areas, national conservation areas, or lands managed by the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or National Park Service.
  • The $75,000 appropriation cannot be transferred or used for any other purpose and must be spent only on the study and consultants.
  • The bill requires the committee to develop legislation it deems appropriate, but it does not specify what that legislation must contain.

Plain language

Terms to know

Multiple use and sustained yield
A principle for managing land that allows for various uses while ensuring the land remains healthy and productive for the future.
Appropriation
A specific amount of money set aside by the government for a particular purpose, in this case, the study.
Revert
To return unused funds back to the general state fund if they are not spent by a certain date.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Read the official summary

Summary for LSO115 Bill No.: SF0056 Effective : 3/10/2015 LSO No.: 15LSO-0336 Enrolled Act No.: SEA 78 Chapter No.: 192 Prime Sponsor: Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee Catch Title: Study on management of public lands. Subject: Requiring a study on the management of public lands in Wyoming by the S tate of Wyoming. Summary/Major Elements: This bill requires the Office of State Lands and Investments to commission a study addressing the management of specified federally administered public lands in Wyoming by the S tate of Wyoming. This bill authorizes the Office of State Lands and Investments to engage the services of research or consulting firms as necessary to develop the study. This bill requires the Office of State Lands to provide a final report to the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee no later than November 30, 2016. This bill requires the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee to consider the study and develop any necessary legislation in response to the study. This bill appropriates $ 75 ,000 from the G eneral F und to the Office of State Lands and Investments for the purpose of commissioning the study and hiring consultants to assist in the study. Comments: Requires a report. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 4:30 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports voting aye because they can accept the House's reduction of funding from $100,000 to $75,000 and appreciate the clarification language regarding existing maintenance.

Public statementFloor statement at 24:19 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the study because it is necessary to determine if Wyoming would be better off managing public lands compared to federal management.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:29:40 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the study but believes state agencies have sufficient expertise to conduct it without additional appropriations.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:30:17 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports changing the language because a private company cannot make a pledge on behalf of the state.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:36:38 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports an amendment requiring verification of federal authority before spending money on a study as a fiscally responsible step.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:43:52 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

7 roll calls

S Concur:Passed 28-1-1-0-02015-03-04 · Senate28 yes 1 no
H 3rd Reading:Passed 42-17-1-0-02015-03-04 · House42 yes 17 no
Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-02015-02-24 · House7 yes 0 no
Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-02015-02-23 · House8 yes 1 no
S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-4-0-0-02015-01-30 · Senate26 yes 4 no
Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 3-1-1-0-02015-01-27 · Senate3 yes 1 no
Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02015-01-23 · Senate5 yes 0 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Assigned Chapter NumberLSO
  2. Governor Signed SEA No. 0078 Governor
  3. H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0078House
  4. S President Signed SEA No. 0078Senate
  5. Assigned Number SEA No. 0078LSO
  6. S Concur:Passed 28-1-1-0-0Senate
  7. S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
  8. H 3rd Reading:Passed 42-17-1-0-0House
  9. Amendment failedHouse
  10. Amendment failedHouse
  11. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  12. H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
  13. H COW:PassedHouse
  14. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  15. H Placed on General FileHouse
  16. Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0House
  17. H COW:Rerefer to H02 - AppropriationsHouse
  18. H Placed on General FileHouse
  19. Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0House
  20. H Introduced and Referred to H09 - MineralsHouse

Changes

Amendments

8 stored

SF0056H3001

Divided 3rd reading by Blake

SF0056H3001.01

Corrected, Adopted 3rd reading by Blake

SF0056H3001.02

Corrected, Failed 3rd reading by Blake

SF0056H3002

Failed 3rd reading by Petroff

SF0056HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by HAC

SF0056S3001

Failed 3rd reading by Hastert

SF0056SW001

Adopted Committee of the Whole by Bebout

SF0056SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by SAgriculture