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Committee gives due pass to resolution urging higher federal mineral royalty share for Wyoming

Select Water Committee (joint with House Agriculture Committee) · February 11, 2026

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Summary

House Joint Resolution 2, asking the federal government to return a larger share of federal mineral royalties to Wyoming, received a committee due pass after presenters clarified the change would be a request to Congress and witnesses outlined why Wyoming currently receives 49% of federal royalties.

House Joint Resolution 2, which expresses support for changing the federal mineral royalty formula to increase Wyoming's share, advanced with a committee due pass after brief presentations and public testimony.

Representative Davis presented the resolution as a signal of support to joint appropriations, explaining the measure seeks a formula change after federal adjustments reduced Wyoming’s net receipts. The presenter characterized it as a request to the federal government rather than a law that would directly change payouts.

Pete Obermueller of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming provided a technical clarification: a recent federal change reduced the federal royalty rate overall rather than directly cutting Wyoming’s statutory share, and Wyoming currently receives roughly 49% of federal royalties back from the federal government (not a full 50%). Obermueller described historical context for that 1% administrative withholding and estimated the annual dollar impact at roughly $40 million in administrative costs tied to the program.

Brett Moline (Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation) and other industry representatives testified in support, describing the resolution as a step toward restoring the state's expected share.

Representative Davis acknowledged the resolution is symbolic and cannot compel the federal government to change the formula but said it is appropriate to register the state's position. The committee moved and seconded the resolution; a roll call produced a unanimous due pass and the clerk announced the committee recommendation in favor of the resolution.

Because the item is a resolution expressing legislative support, there was no substantive amendment to federal law proposed in committee; the resolution will be transmitted as the committee's formal recommendation for consideration by the appropriate legislative body.