[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6379502,"mediaKeyId","2135891-85243b14b7461e98beef50e94d960ce8","parentId",2135891,"title","Committee backs bill to block net increase of federal land ownership in Wyoming; state lands, trust revenue debated","audioSeconds",250,"startMs",4142000,"endMs",4392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135891-85243b14b7461e98beef50e94d960ce8&start=4142&end=4392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135891-85243b14b7461e98beef50e94d960ce8/thumbnail_4142000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6379502/Wyoming/Committee-backs-bill-to-block-net-increase-of-federal-land-ownership-in-Wyoming-state-lands-trust-revenue-debated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379502-d4f8535ddfceb51e1d0974fc553ff2a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1777137837&Signature=PimThrXyW5t8~Ze~O0rpOgq5DFK-ylmtHG8t4GECy0rTO08IFX7VUhn3RRzDVPqG3FY9Evj~TK1LYAr1Is6eQonGQVI9lEjBEJY0GP~~aSuOcmuX0z61LK9g-2Aj9FrD0Zh~QlHUnUkOJ0SKHTCvlCnyFQU6uFgZrT8NkenPhYn57Ng1TvpHKdAkOhjunERqtlup8tDBolQ4U1QkyxK6k4hs95uj5Vxvp7Bnj3fafmZAUbmciVezgUKCOdYwFtD3G4cEjhhmocZvQRqvXeNn5oFbuUniF1Mw03ZqCKNYmqPQ-dmJKwcl8vG1huld82roFE7rnXG5IfHgMmytBt86Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-01-16T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 118, described by its sponsor as a measure “to keep Wyoming lands in Wyoming hands,” advanced from the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee by an 8–1 roll-call vote.

The bill would amend statutory provisions governing exchanges and transfers of state lands to prohibit transactions that result in a net gain of federal surface or mineral acreage within Wyoming. Sponsor Representative Banks told the committee the measure seeks to prevent further expansion of federal ownership and preserve lands and minerals for state use and revenue.

State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder, who sits on the State Board of Land Commissioners, testified in support. Degenfelder said she backed the bill both to limit federal acreage and to protect the board’s fiduciary duty to maximize long-term returns for the K–12 permanent fund; she noted that federal ownership already accounts for a large proportion of Wyoming surface and mineral acreage and said the Kelly parcel sale highlighted the consequences of losing state control of contiguous parcels.

Office of State Lands interim director Jason Crowder urged caution. Crowder told the committee that state practice and federal law typically use a value-for-value standard, not strict acre-for-acre swaps, in federal land exchanges (citing 43 U.S.C. 1716 as the federal exchange policy). Crowder said some current transactions under negotiation — including a Medicine Bow National Forest exchange tied to the West Fork Reservoir project — rely on value-for-value accounting and would be impossible to complete if federal acreage gains were categorically barred. He said the department’s analysis shows the state currently owns about 3.9 million surface acres (the state was originally granted about 4.2 million at statehood) and that recent exchanges and sales have produced net increases in publicly accessible acreage in specific transactions.

Several witnesses urged refinements rather than an absolute prohibition. Jim McGavin of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association and others said earlier drafts offering an 85% voluntary-agreement threshold or a requirement that an exchange be accompanied by an offsetting transfer had merit; Senatorial and county participants previously involved in the public-lands initiative were also cited as having discussed alternatives to outright bans. Representative Tarver urged stronger protections for state land and suggested more aggressive odds in the state’s favor for any trade.

Committee members discussed the bill’s constitutional and operational implications. Representative Provenza said he was concerned about private-property effects and constitutional takings issues if the statute limited private landowners’ ability to sell to the federal government. Several committee members, including Representative Eklund and Representative Davis, said they supported the bill’s intent but wanted additional time to consider alignment with the Office of State Lands’ value-for-value practice and the board’s fiduciary responsibilities.

On the roll call motion to advance the bill, the committee recorded ayes from Representatives Banks, Davis, Eklund, Johnson, Otman, Schmidt, Struck, and Chairman John Winter; Representative Provenza voted no. The committee chair announced the vote as 8–1 in favor. The transcript shows committee members agreeing to take further consideration of language (members suggested possible amendments and further discussion) before floor action.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 118 — Motion: do pass (mover/second not specified in transcript). Roll-call: Banks (Aye), Davis (Aye), Eklund (Aye), Johnson (Aye), Otman (Aye), Provenza (No), Schmidt (Aye), Struck (Aye), Chairman John Winter (Aye). Tally: 8–1 in favor; outcome: passed by committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, January 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 118, aimed at preventing any net increase in federal ownership of surface or mineral acreage in Wyoming, advanced from the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee on an 8–1 vote.","taxTitle","Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",61348,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6379506,"Wyoming committee OKs bill limiting private condemnation for energy collector systems after contested hearing",3988,145000,4133000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135891-85243b14b7461e98beef50e94d960ce8&start=145&end=4133","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135891-85243b14b7461e98beef50e94d960ce8/thumbnail_145000.jpg","/articles/6379506/Wyoming/Wyoming-committee-OKs-bill-limiting-private-condemnation-for-energy-collector-systems-after-contested-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379506-1432acc028605d2db6d406dbfed2fc4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1777137837&Signature=FVz4iB0cVMT9NGN0uQcj7R9a3BI4j7FZTKUedmpfFWe~Ie8xQFqwNoLtqfPQHW8a8bUfBP0Vff6BSrsejlYcl6-I~hKhSC73MFKxNpkMZWm~4mDrhDULrAUlfDqCkWT-q0vUHpXzkKHkrorpF3heshiqzTGbQzV79wzmwxuUIirHpxLVKrLucl4BtvprfS1HzEXadLkjPx-CMdwT~9XjV6pSEdH~jeHlXuUjs4oc61IcyFascdBoKeeXsCRWV90eNhjlvfqGrGBsKSYKvnPv1XjtE4SaGTn46dDhDpwteKuOkWMp~cRq0qtJx6oOhcNPMuAVUR4bQkifpMjuzx9GCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 91, which would bar private companies from using eminent domain to obtain rights-of-way for energy collector systems, advanced from the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee on a 6-3 roll-call vote.

The bill was introduced by Representative Eklund as a response to local opposition to previous collector-line projects and a prior moratorium on collection lines that had expired. Committee members and multiple witnesses debated whether the measure protects private property or unduly restricts development.

Supporters, including several ranchers and the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, said the bill restores protections for landowners who do not want transmission or collector infrastructure crossing their property. Kelly Carpenter, policy advocacy director for the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, testified that her organization’s membership “supports limiting entities … from being able to use the power of eminent domain,” adding that the Farm Bureau was unaware of collector-line landowners receiving ongoing annual payments equal to those received by hosts of generation facilities.

Opponents, led by attorneys representing American Clean Power, said the bill would remove a rarely used but important tool that resolves holdout situations and can increase compensation to landowners. Jeff Pope of Holland & Hart, testifying for American Clean Power, told the committee he had not found evidence that renewable developers had used eminent domain for collector systems but warned that removing the tool would give single holdouts veto power over projects and over adjoining landowners who had negotiated easements. He also described how Wyoming law’s valuation rules can raise compensation during condemnation proceedings.

Industry witnesses and counsel also noted that several protections the bill seeks to restate — for example, that an easement cannot be used beyond its terms and that reclamation obligations exist under state statute — are already in Wyoming law. Cindy DeLancey of Holland & Hart said bonding and reclamation plans are reviewed by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Industrial Siting Council for projects such as wind farms.

Several witnesses suggested a narrower compromise that was discussed in committee previously: a requirement that developers secure voluntary agreements with a specified percentage of affected landowners (one draft used an 85% threshold) before exercising condemnation. Proponents of that approach said it balances private-property concerns with the rights of other landowners who want lease or easement revenue.

Committee discussion reflected the split testimony. Representative Davis said he intended to vote no because the bill did not cover all gathering and transmission types; Representative Eklund described the measure as a difficult tradeoff between protecting landowners and preserving a last-resort tool for development. The roll call on the motion to “do pass” produced six ayes (Representative Banks; Representative Johnson; Representative Otman; Representative Schmidt; Representative Struck; Chairman John Winter) and three noes (Representative Davis; Representative Eklund; Representative Provenza). The committee chair announced, “This bill would pass.”

The bill will now proceed to the next stage in the legislative process (the transcript records the committee vote and does not specify any additional committee directions or amendments at this hearing).

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 91 — Motion: do pass (mover/second not specified in transcript). Roll-call: Banks (Aye), Davis (No), Eklund (No), Johnson (Aye), Otman (Aye), Provenza (No), Schmidt (Aye), Struck (Aye), Chairman Winter (Aye). Tally: 6–3 in favor; outcome: passed by committee.","House Bill 91, which would bar private companies from using eminent domain to acquire rights for energy collector systems, advanced from the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee on a 6–3 vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee backs bill to block net increase of federal land ownership in Wyoming; state lands, trust revenue debated

Wyoming committee OKs bill limiting private condemnation for energy collector systems after contested hearing