During the legislative session, one of us is at the capitol nearly every day. Sometimes, we're attending committee meetings, other times we're having conversations with legislators and other lobbyists about our priorities for the session. In any case, we are representing you - the hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiasts who treasure our wildlife heritage.

As each session progresses, we'll be sending out periodic updates on the progress of legislation that we care about. Stay in touch, and you'll be able to follow the action!


The session kicked off with a bang. As always, I want to invite your active participation in the legislative process. The legislature's website is the most important key to your participation, and I urge you to visit often. The link below will provide you several options for participation: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LEGINFO/HowtoParticipate.pdf.

We worked with Bowhunters of Wyoming to host a legislative breakfast which encouraged our members to communicate and interact with legislators serving in the session. To read the full account and see who won the two conservation awards, click here.

Now let's look at some bills we will be tracking in this session. For each one, I'll provide a link for anyone who would like to read the introduced version of the bill:

HB0010 - Game and Fish Additional Elk Licenses - This bills repeals limitation on the number of additional elk licenses available. It allows hunters to take more than 2 elk per season. We support this bill. It passed the House TRW Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/HB0010.pdf

HB0012 - Marketable Title Act-Conservation Easements - This bills relates to real property, exempting conservation easements from the application of the marketable title act. We are watching this bill. It passed the House second reading. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/HB0012.pdf

HB0013 - Wind Estate Disclosure - This bill provides that the status of the wind estate shall be disclosed to a prospective buyer of land not within the corporate boundaries of a city or town. We support this bill. It passed the House second reading. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/HB0013.pdf

HB0028 - Environmental Quality Council - Executive Secretary - This bill authorizes the environmental quality council to employ an executive secretary providing for employment by the governor. We are watching this bill. It passed introduction. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/HB0028.pdf

HB0038 - Coal Severance Tax Industry Factors - This bill provides industry factors for valuation of coal sold away from the mouth of the mine. We are watching this bill. It passed the House second reading. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/HB0038.pdf

HJ0001 - Resolution in Support of ANWR Energy Development - This joint resolution urges the United States Congress to pass legislation to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration, development and production. We oppose this bill. It passed introduction. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/HJ0001.pdf

SF0013 - Innocent Landowner - This bill amends definition for immunity from liability for contamination. Release/disposal occurred before person acquired property and that person made appropriate inquiries into previous ownership. We were watching this bill, but it was withdrawn. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0013.pdf

SF0017 - G&F Authority Revisions - This bill gives the commission authority to set specifications/rules for weapons including: cross, long, recurve, compounds, bows and arrows and broadheads. It allows the commission authority to specify firearms and allows the use of bait on big game animals where harvest is not being met to address overpopulation, damage/disease, or human safety. We support the weapons portion and look to coalition from last years right to hunt, trap and fish. It passed the Senate TRW Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0017.pdf

SF0018 - Reimbursement for Livestock - This bill amends provisions for reimbursement to livestock producers, creating a reimbursement account, conforming provisions, providing an appropriation and effective date. We are watching this bill. It passed introduction. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0018.pdf

SF0025 - Public Records - This bill amends provisions relating to inspection of documents and exemptions from disclosure. We are watching this bill. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0025.pdf

SF0027 - Public Meetings - This bill amends definition relating to minutes and notices, and provisions relating to meetings, special meetings, emergency meetings, executive sessions and penalties and providing for an effective date. We are watching this bill. It passed the Senate Judiciaru Committee.  http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0027.pdf

SF0033 - Department of Enterprise Technology Services - This bill creates a new department of enterprise technology services, authorizes the transfer of position and funds, and places the state chief information officer in the position as director. We oppose this bill. It was placed on the Senate General File. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0033.pdf

SF0036 - Acquisition of LX Bar Ranch - This bill authorizes the acceptance of lands as specified and providing for an effective date. We support this bill. It passed the Senate TRW Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0036.pdf

SF0041 - Wolf Management - This bill provides for designation of wolves in specified areas and within specified dates as trophy game animals. It also discusses management for a specified number of breeding pairs and individual gray wolves. We are watching this bill. We want the flex line permanent, but support the rest of the bill. It passed the Senate TRW Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0041.pdf

SF0042 - Large Project Funding for WWNRT - This bill authorizes large projects costing more than $200,000 need legislature approval. We support this bill. It was assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0042.pdf

SF0051 - Natural Gas Regulations - This bill relates to natural gas and provides for a moratorium on the plugging of coalbed methane wells as specified. We were watching this bill. It failed introduction. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0051.pdf

SF0053 - Public Lands Access - This bill provides for acquisition of access easements across private lands adjoining public lands as specified. We were watching this bill. It failed introduction. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0053.pdf

SF0079 - Wildlife Challenge Trust Account Extension - This bill extends the wildlife trust challenge account. This bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate TRW Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0079.pdf

SF0089 - Pioneer Heritage License - This bill amends requirements for certain complimentary hunting licenses. We support this bill. It was introduced and assigned to TRW Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SF0089.pdf

SJ0001 - Wildlife Property of the State - This joint resolution proposes to amend the Wyoming Constitution to declare that all wildlife is the property of the state. We are watching this bill. It was introduced and assigned to the Senate TRW Committee. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2012/Introduced/SJ0001.pdf

Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust Fund (WWNRTF) - This allots $21 million in expenditure beyond interest income; $10 million to Sage Grouse; $6 million to other and $5 million to build corpus. We support the Governor's budget.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) - This may be a bill that will make inspections at the border mandatory. We support the Governor's budget along with an additional $1.268 million if inspections are made mandatory at the border. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/ReportsDue/2010/Report%20ID%20712.pdf