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Committee OKs limited authority for state museum to charge nonresident admission and event fees
Summary
The committee approved a bill authorizing the department to set by rule nonresident admission fees and other museum‑related service fees, with proceeds to the Museum Enterprise Fund subject to appropriation; testimony estimated $150,000–$200,000 annual revenue if nonresidents are charged.
CHEYENNE, Aug. 19 — Lawmakers on the Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee voted to allow the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to set, by rule, fees for the Wyoming State Museum — limited to nonresident admissions and charges for museum‑related events and services.
Brian Fuller of the Legislative Service Office walked the committee through the draft, which would add authority in statute for the director to promulgate rules establishing and collecting museum admission fees, participation fees for museum activities, and charges for other services. The draft initially included separate resident and nonresident fees and a maximum cap; committee members amended the language to target nonresident admission and to allow fees for events and services, while removing a preset numeric cap.
“Right now, we do not intend to charge residents for admission,” Deputy Director Sarah Sheen told the panel. She said the department wanted flexibility to charge nonresidents and to begin modest fees for services the museum currently provides without subsidy, including traveling‑exhibit rentals, summer day camps, birthday parties and legislative receptions.
Kevin Ramler, director of the Wyoming State Museum, told legislators a modest nonresident admission fee could generate roughly $150,000 to $200,000 a year under current visitation patterns; event and program fees would be additional and are harder to project. Fuller noted the bill would deposit fees into the Museum Enterprise Fund, which is expended on appropriation like other special revenue accounts in agency budgets.
Legislators sought to ensure the practice would not result in resident charges or loss of legislative budget authority. Members asked the department to add discretion for discounts and waivers (for children, veterans or other groups) and to confirm existing museum store revenue practices; the department agreed to work with LSO to refine that language.
The committee approved the draft — as amended to focus on nonresident admission and on program/event fees — on a roll call vote, 12‑1‑1.
What’s next: Department staff said they will work with LSO to add standard waiver/discount language and return with final rule text and budget estimates as needed.
Sources: Brian Fuller (LSO), Sarah Sheen and Kevin Ramler (State Parks and Cultural Resources).
