This opinion piece was originally published in the Casper Star Tribune on May 8, 2024 and is republished here with permission. See the original op-ed here. In June 2007 then Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal called on the leaders of Wyoming’s industries, non-governmental organizations and government agencies to gather in Casper for his Sage Grouse Summit. […]
FIELD NOTES
A Wyoming guide to recent Bureau of Land Management rules and land use plans
Over the past year, the Bureau of Land Management has been busy with a bevy of rules that, once finalized, will impact public lands across Wyoming and the West. (You might remember hearing from us about the Public Lands Rule, Methane Rule, and Oil and Gas Rule — and you may have even written comments […]
Meeting the Moment: Planning for a Responsible Energy Future with the Western Solar Plan
Attend our virtual Conservation Cafeteria on the Western Solar Plan on Wednesday, April 3 at noon — RSVP here. If you’ve been following national energy trends, you may have noticed that 2022 was a big year. It was the first year in recent history that renewable energy surpassed coal generation in the U.S. As the cost […]
Help shape the future of public lands in Wyoming
WOC is looking for a public lands program manager to join our growing team. In Wyoming, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful landscapes, abundant wildlife, and diverse opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you like to hike, bike, hunt, fish, or birdwatch, there is no doubt that the connections we’ve formed with these special […]
Post-session wrap-up and what’s next
When I last wrote to you on March 11, the House and the Senate had just adjourned. As of this past Saturday, all bills that made it to the governor’s desk have been signed or vetoed. We’re now in that brief, beautiful pause between the end of the budget session and the start of interim […]
That’s a wrap on the 2024 session!
KEY UPDATES ACTIONS TO TAKE Thank your legislators. Your elected officials spent a long month (with many late nights!) away from home. Find your legislators and thank them for their work. You can also thank lawmakers who voted for something important to you: On this webpage, navigate to the ‘Votes’ tab of any bill to […]
Wyoming’s budget is in limbo
The overall pace of the budget session may be slowing … but last week still kept us on our toes! (Gratefully, we were spared from any floor sessions extending into the wee hours, which happened several times in week two.) My personal highlight was time in the Senate Lobby with Outdoor Council executive director Carl […]
The budget advances with a Kelly Parcel win
Another week down, and what a week it was! There were late work nights, down-to-the-wire votes, and even a few tears shed by conservation lobbyists … Fortunately, those were tears of relief, as lawmakers in both chambers voted to retain the sale of the Kelly Parcel to the federal government! Now, even as Meghan Riley, […]
Budget discussions will pick up steam this week
I entered the doors of the Capitol last week full of both excitement and a bit of trepidation: Which bills would be introduced? Which bills would move forward, and which bills would die a swift death? And — would my lingering leg injury, sustained on a Search and Rescue mission last year, impede my ability […]
The journey from bill to law
For me, today’s not just another Monday. It’s the kickoff to the budget session of the 67th Wyoming Legislature — a day that’s been circled in big, bold strokes on my calendar for months. So what will happen, you ask, on this Not-Just-Any-Monday? Let’s start with what we know: When this email reaches your inbox, […]