Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 9, ch. 15
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-15-101 Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Funding Act."

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-15-102 Definitions.

(a) As used in this chapter: (i) "Board" means the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board created by W.S. 9-15-104; (ii) "Income account" means the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust income account created by W.S. 9-15-103(b); (iii) "Large project" means a project for which the total of all grants sought or previously awarded under this act equals or exceeds four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00); (iv) "Natural resource heritage" means renewable natural resources managed under a balanced stewardship that provides for the optimization of social, economic and cultural benefits for the citizens of Wyoming; (v) "Select committee" means the select natural resource funding committee created by W.S. 28-11-401; (vi) "Small project" means a project for which the total of all grants sought or previously awarded under this act is less than four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00); (vii) "Trust account" means the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account created by W.S. 9-15-103(a); (viii) "This act" means W.S. 9-15-101 through 9-15-107.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-15-103 Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account created; income account created; expenditures; purposes.

(a) A trust account is created to be known as the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account. The trust account shall consist of those funds designated to the account by law and all monies received from federal grants and other contributions, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations to the trust account. The trust account is specifically empowered to accept grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations including those which are limited in their purposes by the grantor. Title to any interest in any real property conveyed to the trust account shall be held in the name of the state of Wyoming and shall be administered by the board of land commissioners. The state treasurer, or his designee, who shall be registered under the Investment Advisor's Act of 1940, as amended, if required to be registered by the terms of that act, as amended, may invest the unobligated, unencumbered balance of the trust account in equities, including stocks of corporations. Investments under this subsection shall be in accordance with W.S. 9-4-715(a) and (c) through (e) and 9-4-716. In adopting investment policy statements for the trust account, the state loan and investment board, in consultation with the investment funds committee, shall seek to preserve the balance of the account in a manner that strives for the highest possible risk-adjusted total net return consistent with an appropriate level of safety and liquidity. Earnings from the investment of the trust account shall be credited to the trust account. (b) There is created the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust income account. The income account shall consist of funds in the account on June 30, 2025, funds credited to the account pursuant to paragraph (d)(ii) of this section and all monies received from federal grants and other contributions, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations designated to the income account, which the account is hereby specifically empowered to accept and which may be limited in their purposes by the grantor. The legislature may, from time to time, appropriate funds directly to the income account for distribution in accordance with the terms of this act or as otherwise directed in the appropriation. Earnings from the investment of the income account shall be credited to the trust account created by subsection (a) of this section. Funds in the income account are available to the board for the award of grants: (i) As permitted by this act; (ii) As directed in a legislative appropriation; or (iii) As directed by the grantor of the funds. (c) Repealed by Laws 2025, ch. 149, § 2. (d) The income account shall be subject to the following: (i) Disbursements from the income account shall be for the following purposes: (A) Improvement and maintenance of existing terrestrial habitat necessary to maintain optimum wildlife populations; (B) Preservation of open spaces by purchase or acquisition of development rights; (C) Improvement and maintenance of existing aquatic habitat necessary to maintain optimum fish populations; (D) Acquisition of terrestrial or aquatic habitat when existing habitat is determined critical, or is present in minimal amounts, and acquisition presents the necessary factor in attaining or preserving desired wildlife or fish population levels; (E) Conservation, maintenance, protection and development of wildlife resources, the environment and Wyoming's natural resource heritage; (F) Participation in water enhancement projects to benefit aquatic habitat for fish populations and allow for other watershed enhancements that benefit wildlife; (G) To address and mitigate impacts detrimental to wildlife habitat, the environment and the multiple use of renewable natural resources attributable to residential, mineral and industrial development; (H) To mitigate conflicts and reduce potential for disease transmission between wildlife and domestic livestock. (ii) The amount of monies available for expenditure from the income account in any one (1) fiscal year shall be an amount equal to four percent (4%) of the five (5) year average market value of the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account, calculated from the first day of the fiscal year. This amount shall constitute the spending policy for the trust account and, subject to legislative appropriation, shall be annually credited from the trust account to the income account for expenditure on grants. This paragraph shall be subject to the following: (A) For purposes of calculating the spending policy under this paragraph, the five (5) year average market value of the trust account shall be calculated as follows: (I) For fiscal year 2026, the five (5) year average market value shall be equal to the market value of the trust account, as calculated on the first day of the fiscal year; (II) For fiscal year 2027, the five (5) year average market value shall be equal to the previous two (2) year average market value of the trust account, as calculated on the first day of the fiscal year; (III) For fiscal year 2028, the five (5) year average market value shall be equal to the previous three (3) year average market value of the trust account, as calculated on the first day of the fiscal year; (IV) For fiscal year 2029, the five (5) year average market value shall be equal to the previous four (4) year average market value of the trust account, as calculated on the first day of the fiscal year; (V) For fiscal year 2030 and each fiscal year thereafter, the five (5) year average market value shall be equal to the previous five (5) year average market value of the trust account, as calculated on the first day of the fiscal year. (B) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the board from expending the following monies, which expenditures shall not be counted within the spending policy: (I) Funds that are specially appropriated or credited to the income account or trust account under subsection (a) or (b) of this section when the appropriation, contribution, grant, gift, transfer, bequest or donation so provides; (II) Funds as necessary for the payment of staffing and other administrative expenses if authorized by law; (III) Unobligated and unencumbered funds in the income account that were credited to the income account in a prior fiscal year as part of that year's authorized spending policy; (IV) Previously obligated or encumbered monies in the income account. (C) Any amounts that are subject to expenditure under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall not be included in the calculation required to determine the spending policy amount under this paragraph. (e) No funds shall be made available under this act for the reintroduction of any native or nonnative game or nongame species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., as amended. (f) The board shall not have the power of eminent domain. (g) No funds shall be disbursed under this act for fee simple title acquisition of real property, nor shall funds be disbursed under this act to purchase water rights to be held by the state of Wyoming. (h) The board shall not accept any fee simple interest in real property but shall make recommendations to the board of land commissioners regarding acceptance of any such interest. The board of land commissioners shall only accept a fee simple interest in real property under this act, and the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board shall only accept any other interest in property if the property is willingly conveyed by the holder of the interest. The board of land commissioners may in its sole discretion reject any offer to convey a fee simple interest in real property to any account under this act. The Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board may in its sole discretion reject any offer to convey any other interest in property to any account under this act. Any appraisal of real property conducted at the direction of the board or the board of land commissioners under this act shall reflect the fair market value of the property. (j) The Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board may recommend that the board of land commissioners dispose of any interest in real property within the trust account when the board determines that disposal of the interest would be in the best interests of the trust account. The net proceeds from any disposition of real property pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited to the trust account. (k) No water right shall be accepted under this act as a gift, transfer, bequest or donation unless the right is attached to real property accepted under the terms of this act. Any change of use of a water right acquired in this manner shall be done in full compliance with all provisions of Wyoming law. (m) The board shall not require public access to private land as a condition to receive any grant funds under this act. (n) Every conservation easement funded in whole or in part with monies made available by this act shall bind the parties thereto to an agreement which provides that the state of Wyoming is a third party beneficiary to the easement solely with the contingent right to enforce the terms of the easement if the grantee fails to enforce any of the terms of the easement. The agreement shall provide that if the easement is transferred for value, sold or extinguished without the consent of the board, the state of Wyoming shall have the right to either take legal action to enforce the terms of the easement or to recover from the proceeds of the transfer for value, sale or extinguishment, the state's pro rata share of the proceeds based on the funds the state provided for the creation of the easement. (o) No funds shall be disbursed under this act for the purchase of easements which mandate specific livestock or crop management practices. (p) No funds shall be disbursed under this act for the purchase of easements which prohibit the use of land for ranching or farming if the ranching or farming could be conducted, using current or future technologies and techniques, without infringing on the underlying purpose of the easement. (q) No funds shall be disbursed under this act for the purchase of easements which prohibit hunting, fishing or trapping. (r) No funds shall be disbursed under this act unless the person receiving the funds certifies that no gratuities, kickbacks, gifts, commissions, contingency fees or other considerations have been or will be made in connection with the appropriation or the associated grant made by the board.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-15-104 Wildlife and natural resource trust account board established; terms; meetings; duties.

(a) There is created the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust account board. The board shall consist of nine (9) members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, who are residents of Wyoming. The members shall be appointed from each of the appointment districts set forth in W.S. 5-3-101. The board membership shall reflect a broad spectrum of experiences including wildlife, agriculture, energy, sportsmen and tourism. (b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, each appointed member of the board shall serve for a term of six (6) years. In 2011, three (3) members shall be appointed for six (6) years. In 2012, three (3) members shall be appointed for three (3) years. In 2013 and every second year thereafter, three (3) members shall be appointed for six (6) years. The governor may remove any member as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. Any vacancy occurring between sessions of the legislature may be filled by the governor as provided under W.S. 28-12-101(b). The board shall select one (1) of its members to serve as chair. (c) Administration of any funds administered by the board shall be by the secretary to the board, who shall be employed by the board. The secretary shall not be housed in any agency which may be a grantee under this act. The secretary to the board shall further act as liaison for the board to other state, federal and local governmental agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and members of the public who seek to provide input regarding grant proposals. (d) The board shall meet regularly. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in the manner and amounts provided by law for state employees. (e) The board shall receive and evaluate applications for grants from the income account and shall forward applications for large projects to the select committee for review and recommendation. The board may approve grants for any small project. Subject to the spending policy established in W.S. 9-15-103(d)(ii), funds in the income account are continuously appropriated for small project grants approved by the board and for approved large projects as specified by subsection (k) of this section. (f) The board shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act as necessary to carry out its duties under this act, including rules to: (i) Establish criteria for grants from the income account which accomplish the purposes of this act; (ii) Establish criteria for matching funds or other in-kind contributions from grantees; (iii) Evaluate, rank and prioritize grant proposals with an emphasis on those projects that are partnerships involving private and public entities; (iv) Review and monitor grants to grantees; (v) Evaluate the effects of grant proposals on citizen access to public and state lands for hunting, fishing and recreation activities; (vi) Establish criteria for the acceptance or rejection of gifts, transfers, bequests and donations including interests in real or personal property, which criteria shall not be inconsistent with this act. Based on those criteria, the board shall make recommendations regarding the acceptance of any fee simple interest in real property to the board of land commissioners. Based on those recommendations, the board of land commissioners shall make a final determination on acceptance or rejection of any fee simple interest in real property under this act; (vii) Consider the socioeconomic impacts of the grant proposal on the community affected; (viii) Consider other necessary matters. (g) In fulfilling its duties under this act the board may: (i) Consult with other governmental agencies, persons and nonprofit organizations, as necessary; (ii) Accept or decline federal grants and other contributions, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations of any money, personal property or interests in real property other than a fee simple interest from any source. The board shall make recommendations regarding the acceptance of any fee simple interest in real property to the board of land commissioners; (iii) Participate with for profit corporations to develop wildlife habitat, but may not divert financial resources to a for profit corporation; (iv) Recommend to the joint appropriations committee and the select committee that funds be transferred from the income account to the trust account. (h) The board shall annually report to the governor, the joint appropriations interim committee, the select committee and the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee no later than September 1 with respect to all federal grants, state appropriations and other contributions, grants, gifts, bequests and donations received and credited to the trust account and income account during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall include all grants awarded by the board to nonprofit and governmental organizations and progress made toward the condition of any grant made. (j) Until the corpus of the trust account exceeds two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000.00) the governor may also include in his proposed state budget recommendations for additional funding of the corpus of the trust account. The governor may also include in his proposed state budget recommendations for additional funding of the income account. (k) No funds shall initially be expended from the income account for large projects except upon specific legislative authorization. Following the initial legislative authorization to expend funds for a large project, the board may approve additional grants for that large project not to exceed a total of an additional two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) and shall forward a notice of any such additional grant to the select committee within thirty (30) days of each approval. Subsequent legislative authorization shall be required for any grant in excess of the limits of this subsection.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-15-105 Grant applications; eligible entities.

(a) The board may only grant funds to nonprofit and governmental organizations. The board shall award grants to promote, preserve and enhance the wildlife, multiple use, natural resource and environmental heritage of Wyoming and its people. Subject to the spending policy limitations established in W.S. 9-15-103(d)(ii), the board shall have the discretion to determine the amount of each grant and any conditions attached to the grant. For the purposes of this act, a grant shall not be used for the acquisition of a fee title interest in real property or any interest in water rights to be held by the state of Wyoming. Grant funds may be used for acquisition of personal property related to the project receiving the grant. (b) Grants by the board shall not provide a supplement to, or replacement of, the operating budget of any governmental agency or nonprofit organization except as those funds are directly related to the purposes of the grant. (c) No grants shall be awarded until rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to W.S. 9-15-104(f) have become effective.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-15-106 Audits.

The director of the department of audit or his designee shall audit the trust account annually. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the governor, the joint appropriations interim committee, the select committee and the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 9-15-107 Application to mineral estates.

No provision of this act shall be construed to alter the law of Wyoming regarding the primacy of the mineral estate, to limit access to the mineral estate or to limit development of the mineral estate.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title09.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026

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