Back to Wyoming

HB0178 • 2023

State land parcels-event hosting.

AN ACT relating to state lands; authorizing the office of state lands and investments and the department of state parks and cultural resources to use specified state land parcels for events; specifying requirements for the use of state land parcels for events; specifying the disposition of revenues generated from events on state land parcels; providing an appropriation; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

Education Taxes
Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor
Representative Harshman
Last action
2023-02-07
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as inactive means it did not move forward in its current session, leaving some uncertainties regarding future implementation.

Using State Land for Events

This act allows certain state lands in Teton County to be used for revenue-generating events after getting approval from the Board of Land Commissioners, with rules about how these events should happen and what happens to the money made from them.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to use specific state land parcels in Teton County for revenue-generating events after getting approval from the Board of Land Commissioners.
  • Requires that no more than five event sites be used on each parcel, and sets out types of events allowed like weddings, concerts, corporate events, and other social events.
  • Permits temporary structures to be built or rented for these events, which must be removed afterward.
  • Specifies that all money made from the events goes into a special fund for schools after covering any costs related to running the events.
  • Requires the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to make rules about how this act will work.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources
  • The Office of State Lands and Investments
  • People who want to use state land for revenue-generating events

Terms To Know

Revenue-generating events
Events that make money, like concerts or weddings.
Board of Land Commissioners
A group that makes decisions about how state land is used.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify which exact parcels in Teton County will be used for events.
  • It's unclear what happens if the money from events doesn't cover all costs related to running them.
  • This act was marked as inactive and did not move forward.

Bill History

  1. 2023-02-07 House

    H:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to HR 5-4

  2. 2023-02-07 House

    H No report prior to CoW Cutoff

  3. 2023-01-20 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H08 - Transportation

  4. 2023-01-18 House

    H Received for Introduction

  5. 2023-01-17 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
23LSO-0511
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0511
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0178

State land parcels-event hosting.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Berger, Brown, Chadwick and Northrup and Senator(s) Landen

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to state lands; authorizing the office of state lands and investments and the department of state parks and cultural resources to use specified state land parcels for events; specifying requirements for the use of state land parcels for events; specifying the disposition of revenues generated from events on state land parcels; providing an appropriation; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 36
‑
4
‑
124 is created to read:

36
‑
4
‑
124.

State land parcels; event hosting; requirements; revenues.

(a)

The department of state parks and cultural resources is authorized to utilize state land parcels for revenue
‑
generating events in accordance with the following:

(i)

No state land parcel shall be utilized for revenue
‑
generating events under this section without the board of land commissioners first granting approval for use of the parcel in accordance with this section;

(ii)

The department shall utilize only state land parcels in Teton county as determined by the department, in consultation with the office of state lands and investments, that would provide the best opportunity for generating the maximum amount of revenue from each parcel through the hosting of revenue
‑
generating events on each parcel;

(iii)

The department shall use not more than five (5) event sites on each parcel identified in paragraph (ii) of this subsection;

(iv)

The department may hold any revenue
‑
generating event on the parcels identified in paragraph (ii) of this subsection, including, without limitation, weddings, concerts, corporate events and other social events;

(v)

The department may construct or install or enter into a contract for the construction or installation of temporary structures that are dismantled after use for the hosting of revenue
‑
generating events on the parcels identified in paragraph (ii) of this subsection;

(vi)

The department may lease or enter into contracts for concessions or other services associated with the revenue
‑
generating events on state land parcels identified in paragraph (ii) of this subsection. Leases or contracts entered into under this section shall be in accordance with W.S. 36
‑
4
‑
110.

(b)

The department of state parks and cultural resources shall deposit not less than quarterly, less any fees or costs associated with implementing this section, all revenues generated from all revenue
‑
generating events held on the parcels identified in paragraph (a)(ii) of this section in the common school account within the permanent land income fund.

(c)

The department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the office of state lands and investments, shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this section.

Section 2.

There is appropriated three million dollars ($3,000,000.00) from the school foundation program reserve account created by W.S. 21
‑
13
‑
306.1 to the department of state parks and cultural resources for the period beginning on the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2026. Funds appropriated under this section shall be expended only to implement this act, including but not limited to conducting due diligence on the state land parcels on which revenue
‑
generating events may be held under this act, developing site criteria for the parcels, developing a business plan for holding revenue
‑
generating events, securing a concessionaire in accordance with this act and any other expenses related to planning and holding revenue
‑
generating events on the parcels identified in this act. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) and 9
‑
4
‑
207, any unexpended, unobligated funds from this appropriation shall not revert until June 30, 2026.

Section 3.

The department of state parks and cultural resources, in consultation with the office of state lands and investments, shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.

Section 4
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0178