New state lands director outlines customer-service focus, new rules and emergency loan program

Stacia Berry, director of the Office of State Lands and Investments, told the Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee on June 11 that she is leading the agency with "the 3 C's — customer service, communication and common sense." Berry, two months into the job, briefed members on staffing, digital services, forestry work and several rule packages the office is putting into effect after the 2025 legislative session.

Berry said the office manages roughly 3,900,000 mineral acres and 3,500,000 surface acres on behalf of state trust beneficiaries, primarily K–12 education. She described four agency divisions — trust land management, field services, administration and forestry — and reported the trust land program oversees 4,073 grazing leases statewide, with 465 leases up for renewal in 2025. "So far, we've only had one individual not renew their lease," she said.

Berry highlighted recent and upcoming rule activity. The Board of Land Commissioners authorized rulemaking in several areas tied to 2025 legislation: chapter 4 grazing rules to implement the new fencing statute that makes the state or lessee responsible for half the fence cost when an adjoining landowner elects to fence out state parcel; chapter 3 rules to record and award perpetual easements for county and municipal roads established prior to Jan. 1, 2025 (the office estimated about 700 roads will need attention and the easement provision sunsets in 2030); and chapter 43 emergency rules to implement an emergency bridge loan program created this year. Berry said the bridge loan program allows the office, with gubernatorial approval, to borrow up to $25 million to issue loans of up to $750,000 and three-year terms. The statute sets the interest rate calculation as 0% plus the average pooled rate from the prior year; Berry said the rate for the program will be roughly 4.63% based on last year's pooled rate and that loans will be issued within five days of a bank-approved applicant once the program begins on July 1.

Berry also noted operational updates: state asset management and permitting (SLAMS) is online for permit applications, status checks and payments; field services staff now conducts on-the-ground inspections and appraisals; and the forestry division recently broke ground on the Helitech facility in Casper and is pursuing emergency rules to allow pre-positioning of crews for wildfire response. She warned that abundant spring growth can increase wildfire fuel and that state foresters expect another active fire season later in summer.

On revenue, Berry said minerals remain the primary revenue driver for the trust parcels, followed by surface activities such as grazing and rights-of-way. The board recently reviewed a five-year revenue summary (2021–2025 projections) and received public feedback at a trust lands forum organized with the Ruckelshaus Institute. Berry told the committee the office is attempting to be more responsive after industry frustrations and that two new grazing staff positions have helped reduce backlog.

Public commenters who addressed the committee praised the new director's outreach. Jim McGagney of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association told the committee the increased communication in the first 60 days has been "outstanding," saying constituents appreciated that the office is "here to listen." Berry said both she and new deputy director Kate Barlow welcome input.

The director offered to provide committee members with copies of the proposed rule text and additional revenue detail on request.

Ending — Berry said the office will continue outreach and pledged to follow up with specific numbers and materials committee members requested, including rule text and program guidance for the new bridge loan and easement implementation.