SF0016 • 2026

Subleasing of state lands-exemptions.

AN ACT relating to state lands; amending provisions and creating exemptions regarding the subleasing of state grazing lands; providing definitions; establishing a non-owned livestock fee; repealing obsolete provisions; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Agriculture
Last action: 2026-03-02
Official status: enrolled
Effective date: 7/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how non-compliance with notification requirements will be handled, nor does it specify the exact amount of the monthly fee for non-owned livestock.

Subleasing of State Grazing Lands - Exemptions

This law changes rules for subleasing state grazing lands and creates exemptions, including a notice requirement for non-owned livestock and a fee for their use.

What This Bill Does

Requires lessees to notify the Office of State Lands and Investments about non-owned livestock on leased land within 30 days of arrival.
Establishes a monthly fee per head of non-owned livestock, which must be paid by the lessee.
Exempts lessees from subleasing requirements if at least 80% of the entities owning livestock also hold the state grazing lease.

Who It Names or Affects

State land lessees who allow non-owned livestock on their leased lands
The Office of State Lands and Investments

Terms To Know

excess rental: The amount received from a sublease that is more than the annual lease rental.
animal unit month: A measure of livestock grazing capacity, defined by Wyoming law.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if lessees do not comply with notification requirements.
The exact amount of the monthly fee for non-owned livestock is set by the board and can vary.

Bill History

2026-03-02 LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 22
2026-03-02 Governor
Governor Signed SEA No. 0011
2026-02-26 House
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0011
2026-02-26 Senate
S President Signed SEA No. 0011
2026-02-26 LSO
Assigned Number SEA No. 0011
2026-02-26 Senate
S Concur:Passed 29-0-1-0-1
2026-02-25 Senate
S Received for Concurrence
2026-02-25 House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 57-2-3-0-0
2026-02-24 House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-23 House
H COW:Passed
2026-02-19 House
H Placed on General File
2026-02-19 House
H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-2-0-0
2026-02-16 House
H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture
2026-02-13 House
H Received for Introduction
2026-02-12 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-1-0-0-1
2026-02-11 Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-10 Senate
S COW:Passed
2026-02-10 Senate
S Placed on General File
2026-02-10 Senate
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2026-02-09 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture 28-2-0-0-1
2026-01-05 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2025-12-04 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0213

Bill No.:

SF0016

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0213

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0011

Chapter No.:

22

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Subleasing of state lands-exemptions.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Amends provisions and creates exemptions to the subleasing of state grazing lands.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act requires state land lessees to give the Office of State Lands and Investments notice of livestock not owned by the lessee on leased grazing lands.

This act provides definitions of "excess rental" and "animal unit month".

This act requires a state land lessee to pay a monthly fee per head of non-owned livestock.

If a state land lessee notifies the Office of State Lands and Investments that the common ownership of the livestock grazing on the land is not less than eighty percent (80%), a sublease or a non-owned livestock fee is not required.

This act repeals obsolete provisions.

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

26LSO-0213

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0016

ENROLLED ACT NO. 11,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to state lands; amending provisions and creating exemptions regarding the subleasing of state grazing lands; providing definitions; establishing a non-owned livestock fee; repealing obsolete provisions; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 36
‑
5
‑
105(d)(iii), by creating new subparagraphs (D) and (E) and by creating a new subsection (k) is amended to read:

36
‑
5
‑
105.

Criteria for leasing; preferences; assignments, subleases or contracts; lands taken for war purposes; mineral lands excepted; agricultural lands.

(d)

If the lessee of state lands shall assign, sublease or contract all or any part of the lease area, the lease shall be subject to cancellation unless the director approves the assignment, sublease or contract subject to criteria established by the board of land commissioners provided that:

(iii)

In no event shall the lands be subleased unless one
‑
half (1/2) of the excess rental is paid to the state
. For purposes of this paragraph, "excess rental" means the amount of money received from the sublease by the lessee is in excess of the current annual grazing and agricultural lease rental. "Excess rental" shall be calculated by identifying the total money received for only the use of leased or subleased state lands and subtracting the annual lease rental
;

(iv)

A lessee of state lands whose lease authorizes grazing on the state lands shall not be required to obtain the approval of the director to allow livestock the lessee does not own to graze on the state lands provided that:

(D)

Notice of the presence of livestock not owned by the lessee shall be given to the board on a form provided by the office of state lands and investments not more than thirty (30) days after the arrival of the livestock on the leased land;

(E)

In addition to the annual rental amount, the lessee shall pay a monthly fee per head of non-owned livestock which shall be established by the board and shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the annual animal unit month rental rate. The payment shall be made to the board not later than thirty (30) days after the removal of the non-owned livestock. For purposes of this subparagraph, "animal unit month" means as defined by W.S. 41
‑
3
‑
116(a)(ii).

(k)

If at any time a state grazing lessee notifies the office that the common ownership of the entities holding the state grazing lease and owning the livestock grazing on the state grazing lease is not less than eighty percent (80%), a sublease or a non-owned livestock fee shall not be required.

Section 2
.

W.S. 36
‑
5
‑
105(d)(iv)(A) through (C), (v) and (vi) is repealed.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1