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HB0218 • 2023

Jackson hole rodeo and fairgrounds-state historic site.

AN ACT relating to state lands; providing legislative findings; designating the Teton county fairgrounds as the Rylee McCollum Teton county fairgrounds state historic site; specifying restrictions; and providing for an effective date.

Agriculture
Inactive

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not become law as it was marked inactive and died in committee.

Designating Teton County Fairgrounds as State Historic Site

This act designates the Teton county fairgrounds as a state historic site named after Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum and specifies restrictions on its use.

What This Bill Does

  • Designates the Teton county fairgrounds, including Mateosky park, public works department, and exhibit hall, as the Rylee McCollum Teton County Fairgrounds State Historic Site.
  • Specifies that the designated land can only be used for purposes similar to those before January 1, 2023, such as heritage activities, agriculture, and public recreation.
  • Requires legislative approval for any changes to the designated land.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Teton County community
  • Tourists visiting Jackson Hole
  • State agencies responsible for managing historic sites

Terms To Know

State Historic Site
A location designated by the state government to preserve and protect historical significance.
Legislative Findings
Statements made in a bill that explain why lawmakers believe certain actions are necessary or important.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify what happens if the legislature does not approve changes to the site.
  • It is unclear how this designation will affect future development plans for Teton County.
  • The bill did not become law as it was marked inactive and died in committee.

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. 2023-01-24 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel

  4. 2023-01-24 House

    H Received for Introduction

  5. 2023-01-21 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
23LSO-0491
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0491
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0218

Jackson hole rodeo and fairgrounds-state historic site.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Winter and Senator(s) Hutchings

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to state lands; providing legislative findings; designating the Teton county fairgrounds as the Rylee McCollum Teton county fairgrounds state historic site; specifying restrictions; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

(a)

The legislature finds that:

(i)

Beginning in 1941, the Teton county fairgrounds and Jackson Hole rodeo have been a gathering place for the Teton county community for generations and has been used year-round for 4-H, future farmers of America, horseback riding, quinceaneras, parades, shed hunts, festivals, ice skating, hockey games, rodeos and the Teton county fair;

(ii)

The Teton county fairgrounds are where citizens and tourists alike come together to celebrate and mourn;

(iii)

In 2021 at the Jackson Hole rodeo, the Teton county community honored the life of Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021;

(iv)

Annually, the Teton county fair has an attendance of more than fifteen thousand (15,000) people from around the region. The Jackson Hole rodeo has approximately seventy thousand (70,000) visitors and participants from all over the world;

(v)

The original land for the fairgrounds was sold to the town of Jackson in 1941 and, at the time of the sale, constituted approximately twenty-six (26) acres. Throughout the decades, the town took land for projects from the fairgrounds to where today, the fairgrounds constitute only twelve and thirty-five hundredths (12.35) acres;

(vi)

In the past year, the town council of Jackson decided to take approximately one (1) acre from the fairgrounds for housing and, in 2030, there are plans to utilize the remaining acreage of the fairgrounds for housing. The town's actions will leave Teton county without access to Wyoming heritage and cultural events and activities. Another fairgrounds site has not been identified because approximately ninety-seven percent (97%) of the county is protected from development;

(vii)

As Wyoming's fossil fuel industry remains under assault, tourism has emerged as the economic engine of the state;

(viii)

The town of Jackson, as the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, is a great place to introduce Wyoming's proud western heritage to the world. There is no better way to showcase that history than the Teton county fairgrounds and rodeo;

(ix)

A famous sign welcomes travelers to the Jackson hole area and reads "Howdy stranger; Yonder is Jackson Hole; The Last of the Old West";

(x)

It is the state of Wyoming's obligation to ensure that the message specified in paragraph (ix) of this subsection remains true for generations to follow.

Section 2
.

W.S. 36
‑
8
‑
1801 is created to read:

ARTICLE 18
TETON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

36
‑
8
‑
1801.

Rylee McCollum Teton county fairgrounds state historic site; designation; restrictions.

(a)

The lands in Teton county comprised of approximately twenty-six and nine hundredths (26.09) acres located in township 41, range 116, SE1/4 and NE1/4 of section 33 (map T60-B and map T-57), known as the fairgrounds and including Mateosky park, the public works department and exhibit hall are hereby declared to be the Rylee McCollum Teton county fairgrounds state historic site. The department of state parks and cultural resources shall by rule specify the legal description of the state historic site.

(b)

If the lands specified in subsection (a) of this section, including the public works department and exhibit hall currently used by the public works department and Teton county fair are used for any purpose other than purposes for which the land and facilities are used before January 1, 2023, those lands shall become part of the state historic site created in this section.

(c)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all lands designated in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be used only as the Teton county fairgrounds and for other western heritage, agricultural and public recreational purposes and shall not be modified, altered, traded, sold or otherwise disposed of without approval of the legislature.

Section 3
.

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)

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HB0218