Legislature works through public land resolution

BUFFALO — Last year, the Wyoming Legislature considered a resolution to demand that the U.S. Congress transfer federal lands to state management, a move that critics noted would lead to privatization of public lands.

This year, the same body is poised to pass a resolution that would ask Congress to seek “meaningful input from state and local governments and affected communities” if considering the disposal of any federal lands within state boundaries. The resolution, SJ 9 Keeping public lands protected and decisions local, states that the Legislature opposes state or federal policy that promotes broad sale or exchange of public lands.

If passed, the resolution would be sent to the president, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. As of press time Tuesday, the resolution passed the Senate and the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources committee and was placed on the House’s general file.

The resolution introduced by Sen. Eric Barlow, R-Gillette, notes that 91% of Wyoming’s population uses public lands for work, recreation and subsistence.

“Recent proposals and public discussions have raised concern regarding broad, quota-driven or large-scale sales of federal public lands as a policy or revenue mechanism, without sufficient local input or analysis,” the resolution states.

The resolution also says that federal management should respect existing land management frameworks, county land use plans and local input when considering changes to federal land management or disposal of lands. The Legislature “supports responsible, locally supported land exchanges, adjustments or disposals under existing laws and procedures when they demonstrably enhance public access, natural resource use or community benefit,” the resolution says.

Following last year’s narrowly killed resolution in the state Legislature, a proposal from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee to dispose of a percentage of Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service land brought backlash from Wyoming conservation and recreation organizations. Public lands have become a significant political issue in the aftermath.

Rep. Marilyn Connolly, R-Buffalo, a co-sponsor, voted in favor of SJ 9, which she said is meant to clarify the state’s position on federal land management as lawmakers from surrounding states push policies that could transfer management of federal land to state or private interests.

Sen. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo, is also a co-sponsor of the resolution and voted in favor of it.

Keep It Public, Wyoming, a coalition of organizations, businesses and individuals who advocate for public land and spoke out against last year’s federal land disposal resolution in the Legislature, has written to lawmakers and issued statements in support of the measure introduced this year.

“This time last year, we were working hard to stop a public land transfer resolution moving through the Legislature,” the group posted on its Facebook account on Feb. 14. “Today, there are no public land transfer or sell-off proposals on the table. Even better, there’s a resolution affirming the state’s support for keeping public lands in public hands. That’s welcome news — and a sign that lawmakers are hearing what Wyomingites are saying.”

This story was published on March 5, 2026.