Sen. Dan Laursen

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (SJ 1) is a non-binding request from Wyoming's legislature to the U.S. Congress. It demands that Congress extinguish federal ownership of public lands and subsurface resources within Wyoming (currently covering about 46% of the state's surface area and 69% of its subsurface resources) to fulfill Wyoming's constitutional "equal footing" status as a state admitted to the Union. The resolution requires Congress to confirm its intent to transfer these lands to Wyoming by October 1, 2024, and proposes that the transferred lands remain state public lands. It is a procedural resolution, not a law, and has not advanced beyond the introduction stage in the Wyoming Senate (failed 17-14).

Maddy summaryWyoming's SF 88 requires the attorney general to investigate local government actions (counties, cities, towns) that allegedly violate state law or the Wyoming Constitution, following a legislator's written request and prior notice to the local government. If violations aren't resolved within 60 days of notice, the attorney general must notify the state treasurer to withhold state funds from the violating entity until the issue is fixed. The bill creates a specific process for holding local governments accountable, including mandatory reporting to the governor and legislature. It directly affects counties, cities, and towns that adopt policies conflicting with state law, with the primary enforcement tool being the withholding of state revenue distributions. The law amends existing fund distribution rules to implement this withholding mechanism.