AN ACT relating to state lands; removing the restriction on the number of authorized good neighbor authority employee positions; requiring employee positions to be funded only using funds from the Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account; authorizing gifts, donations and bequests to be deposited into the account; prohibiting the acceptance of real property for purposes of the good neighbor authority; and providing for an effective date.
Labor
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
Fed Nat Res
Last action
2026-02-27
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2026
Plain English Breakdown
The official source does not provide information on how extra workers will be used or what their jobs will be.
Amendments to Good Neighbor Authority Program
This law changes rules for hiring employees and accepting funds for the Wyoming State Forestry Good Neighbor Authority Program.
What This Bill Does
Removes limits on how many extra workers can be hired for the program.
Requires that new worker positions are paid using money from a special account only.
Allows gifts, donations, and other types of funding to go into this special account.
Who It Names or Affects
The Wyoming State Forester who manages the Good Neighbor Authority Program
People or organizations that want to donate money to the program
Terms To Know
Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account
A special fund used for projects related to forest management and wildfire prevention.
Good Neighbor Authority Program
A program that helps manage forests and prevent wildfires on federal lands in Wyoming.
Limits and Unknowns
The law does not specify how the extra workers will be used or what their jobs will be.
It is unclear if there are other rules about accepting real property for similar programs.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Standing Committee • Senate Minerals, Business and Economic Development
Adopted
Plain English: 1
SF0017SS001
1 Page 1-line 12 After "and" delete "36-1-503(a) by creating"
2 and insert "36-1-503(b)".
1
SF0017SS001
1 Page 1-line 12 After "and" delete "36-1-503(a) by creating"
2 and insert "36-1-503(b)".
3
4 Page 1-line 13 Delete "a new paragraph (vi) and (b)".
5
6 Page 3-lines 12 through 15 Delete entirely.
ANDERSON, CHAIRMAN
Bill History
2026-02-27LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 15
2026-02-27Governor
Governor Signed SEA No. 0014
2026-02-26House
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0014
2026-02-26Senate
S President Signed SEA No. 0014
2026-02-26LSO
Assigned Number SEA No. 0014
2026-02-26House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-1-2-0-0
2026-02-25House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-24House
H COW:Passed
2026-02-24House
H Placed on General File
2026-02-24House
H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0
2026-02-18House
H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture
2026-02-18House
H Received for Introduction
2026-02-17Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
2026-02-16Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2026-02-13Senate
S COW:Passed
2026-02-12Senate
S Placed on General File
2026-02-12Senate
S09 - Minerals:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2026-02-09Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S09 - Minerals 31-0-0-0-0
2026-01-05Senate
S Received for Introduction
2025-12-04LSO
Bill Number Assigned
Official Summary Text
Bill Summary - 26LSO-0125
Bill No.:
SF0017
Effective:
7/1/2026
LSO No.:
26LSO-0125
Enrolled Act No.:
SEA No. 0014
Chapter No.:
15
Prime Sponsor:
Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee
Catch Title:
Good neighbor authority-amendments.
Has Report:
No
Subject:
Wyoming Good Neighbor Authority Program amendments.
Summary/Major Elements:
This act removes the restriction on the number of additional employees that the Wyoming State Forester may hire for the Wyoming Good Neighbor Authority Program and authorizes these additional employees to be funded using any funds deposited in the Wyoming Good Neighbor Authority Revolving Account.
This act authorizes grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, and donations to be deposited in the Wyoming State Forestry Good Neighbor Authority Revolving Account.
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-0125
ORIGINAL Senate
File No
.
SF0017
ENROLLED ACT NO. 14,
SENATE
SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session
AN ACT relating to state lands; removing the restriction on the number of authorized good neighbor authority employee positions; requiring employee positions to be funded only using funds from the Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account; authorizing gifts, donations and bequests to be deposited into the account; prohibiting the acceptance of real property for purposes of the good neighbor authority; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
W.S. 36
‑
1
‑
502 and 36
‑
1
‑
503(b) are amended to read:
36
‑
1
‑
502.
Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account; creation; investment of funds; authorized expenditures.
(a)
There is created the Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account. The account shall include all legislative appropriations, federal funds, county funds, partner funds, funds generated from good neighbor authority projects or other federally funded cooperative forest management projects
, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, donations
and all income from investments of monies in the account.
The state forester is specifically empowered to accept grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations for deposit in the account, including those which are limited in their purpose by the grantor except as provided in W.S. 36
‑
1
‑
503(a)(vi).
If a contract is entered into pursuant to W.S. 36
‑
1
‑
503(a)(iii), funds in the account may be expanded on good neighbor authority projects prior to receipt of federal fund reimbursements. Funds deposited into the account are continuously appropriated to the state forester to be expended only as provided in this section. Unless otherwise specifically provided, appropriations to the account shall not lapse or revert at the end of any fiscal period.
(b)
Upon written approval of the state forester, expenditures shall be made out of the account for good neighbor authority projects
,
or
other cooperative forest management projects
or hiring additional employees under W.S. 36
‑
1
‑
503(b)
.
36
‑
1
‑
503.
Powers and duties of state forester.
(b)
The state forester may hire additional employees as necessary to conduct good neighbor authority projects or other federally funded cooperative forest management projects funded through the account. Employees hired under this subsection shall be funded using
federal
funds deposited in the account.
The state forester shall not fill more than four (4) full
‑
time employee positions and six (6) at
‑
will employee contract positions under this subsection.
Section 2
.
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