Conference committee adds city-of-Lander consultation to House Bill 69 land transfers

A conference committee reviewing House Bill 69 agreed to add explicit consultation with the city of Lander for transfers of land held by the Wyoming Life Resource Center and to add a reporting requirement to the conference report.

Committee members said the bill contains two transfers: one conveying property from the Wyoming Life Resource Center to a state maintenance yard operator (referred to in the transcript as "white dot") and another provision making a separate parcel available for residential sale or auction in Lander. Members debated whether the statute should 'authorize and direct' the transfers or be permissive ('may').

The committee read the proposed amendment that would insert the city of Lander into the consultation clause: "the Department of Health in consultation with the city of Lander, the Board of Land Commissioners and the Office of State Lands and Investments is authorized and [directed/may] convey its right, title and interest." An attorney advised that 'authorized' would permit but not require a transfer, while 'directed' would require it.

Representative Larson pressed for a formulation that ensures the maintenance-yard transfer proceeds while allowing the residential parcel's sale process to remain subject to zoning and market conditions. Members noted the residential parcel under discussion is about 28.94 acres and that any residential use would require the city to rezone the property (it is currently listed as PL, public land, in city zoning).

Committee members emphasized that adding "in consultation with the city of Lander" does not give the city veto power; one member said putting 'may' in the residential clause still leaves zoning and rezoning authority with the city, and practical barriers such as lack of residential zoning would limit buyers. Members also discussed neighborhood impacts — including proximity to a Rocky Mountain Power substation and existing maintenance operations — and suggested mitigation measures such as landscaping and sound buffering if the maintenance yard remains near residences.

The committee coalesced around a compromise: keep the first section (the maintenance-yard transfer) with stronger language to facilitate the transfer, make the residential parcel permissive ('may') to secure enough legislative support, and insert consultation with the city of Lander in both sections. Members agreed to draft a conference committee report reflecting that compromise and to sign it the next morning.

The committee also agreed to add a reporting requirement directing agencies to notify the legislature — including the joint transportation committee — when either transfer is completed or when the residential parcel is sold. Members indicated the committee's vote was unanimous on the draft language and timetable.

A public participant, Meredith Paul, identified herself as a University of Wyoming student during the public-comment period but declined to offer a detailed opinion after listening to the discussion.

The committee planned to circulate the written conference committee report and sign it the following morning; no statutory citations or specific buyers were announced during the meeting.