The 2025 General Session is off to an exciting, fast-paced start, and bills are stacking up quickly. We’re keeping an eye on legislation that would impact private property, nuclear waste, rooftop solar, and other conservation priorities in Wyoming — read on for key updates!
HB118 attacks future land exchanges
HB118 would effectively restrict any land exchanges or conveyances that increase the amount of federal public lands. Even worse, it would potentially prevent private landowners from selling their land for conservation purposes or public access — and stymie deals that often result in huge benefits to the state, such as the Kelly Parcel.
Last week, the bill easily passed the House Agriculture Committee. Read more about our concerns around this bad bill on our blog, and keep an eye on your email for action alerts!
Say “No” to Nuclear Waste Storage
We’re keeping a close watch on HB16, a worrisome bill about nuclear waste storage, as it moves towards a House Committee. This bill redefines “high-level nuclear waste” to exclude “spent nuclear fuel” from its definition in order to streamline a process for bringing hazardous waste from the country’s commercial nuclear reactors to Wyoming. Once this bill is assigned to a committee, we’ll need your help to speak against this bad idea — again! Keep an eye on your email for action alerts, and find more information about this troubling bill here.
On our latest blog, Big Wind Carpenter, WOC tribal engagement coordinator, outlines the long-term stakes of nuclear waste storage with a personal story about growing up in the shadow of the uranium industry. Read it here!
Rooftop Solar: Two (very different) bills
We are tracking two bills that promote very different visions for the future of rooftop solar in Wyoming. The first, SF111- Net metering revisions is the latest legislative attack on energy independence and rooftop solar. It continues a saga of uncertainty for rooftop solar customers — and is simply not needed given the tiny amount of rooftop solar and backyard wind in the state.
The second, HB183 – Net metering amendments is actually a good bill that would promote rooftop solar and help more ranchers, schools, and local governments take advantage of the sun to lower rising utility bills. Check out our factsheets for these two very different bills at the links above. We’ll keep you updated as they head to committee in the coming days or weeks.
Keeping Game & Fish’s budget healthy
To avoid a looming budget crunch, SF99 seeks to give the Wyoming Game and Fish Department a financial boost. By exempting a subset of Game and Fish properties from taxation, the bill could save the agency upwards of half a million dollars annually and put those dollars to work on behalf of Wyoming’s wildlife and people.
We testified in support of this bill last Thursday and are happy to report the Senate Travel, Wildlife, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Committee voted unanimously to advance it. Next up, Senate Appropriations. Stay tuned!
Upcoming: BEERS & BILLS
Join us January 30 at Black Tooth Brewing in Cheyenne (or via Zoom!) for a lively panel discussion with experts on the session’s most important topics.
If you’re curious about what to expect during the session or want to get more involved, this is an event not to miss. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the panel discussion (and livestream) begins at 5:30. This event is free and open to the public, but your RSVP will help us plan.
As we work to understand the many bills and priorities of this new legislature, we want to thank you for your support and engagement. The core values that have always guided us — clean air, clean water, and support for our public lands and wildlife — ring just as true today as they did nearly 60 years ago when we first entered the debate in Cheyenne.
This can be challenging work, but we are here for the fight. We couldn’t do it without support from people like you! Stay tuned for opportunities to leverage your voice to make an impact.
Want to stay in the loop on important legislation and opportunities to take action? Sign up for our legislative emails!
Image: Meghan Riley