Committee approves Game and Fish property-tax exemption; department says $540,000 would remain for conservation

The Appropriations Committee voted to report Senate File 99 do pass after testimony from department and stakeholder witnesses that the bill would exempt most Wyoming Game and Fish Commission properties from property taxes and return roughly $540,000 annually to the department for conservation work.

Angie Bruce, Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, told the committee the department currently pays property taxes on its lands and that the bill would allow about $540,000 to remain within the department for conservation practices. She said the bill specifically exempts commission properties except those appraised with agricultural value, so wildlife habitat management areas and feed grounds appraised as agricultural would continue to generate tax revenue for counties.

Several stakeholder witnesses voiced support. Andy Schwartz of the Wyoming Outdoor Council said he supported the bill while urging clarification on how and when the Appropriations Committee will handle rereferrals of bills with fiscal impact. Robert Short, vice president of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, supported the bill but flagged concern about creating a new housing exemption other agencies do not have. Jess Johnson of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation also supported the bill, highlighting the public-facing nature of warden housing.

Bruce said the department pays roughly $130,000 per year in taxes on game warden housing and that the department has 48 game warden houses statewide; the fiscal note discussed at the hearing was presented as approximately $540,000 retained by the department. The committee voted 5 ayes to report the bill do pass.