Bill Description

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to introduce a bill and enact law to increase the state of Wyoming's share of federal mineral royalties from fifty percent (50%) to eighty-seven and one-half percent (87.5%). 

Notes

This bill represents a bold and necessary step forward for Wyoming, championing the state's economic vitality and self-determination in the face of federal policies that increasingly strain local resources. By requesting Congress to elevate Wyoming's share of federal mineral royalties from 50% to 87.5%, the resolution astutely addresses the disproportionate burden Wyoming bears as a steward of vast federal lands—nearly half of the state's surface area—while generating billions in national energy production. It's a proactive measure that not only seeks to offset the projected revenue shortfalls from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which slashes royalty rates on oil, gas, and coal, but also ensures sustained funding for critical public services like education, transportation, and emergency response. 

In FY 2024 alone, Wyoming reaped over $590 million from these royalties, a lifeline that this resolution wisely aims to protect and amplify, fostering long-term prosperity for Wyoming families and communities. 

It's a model of states' rights in action, pushing back against federal overreach and prioritizing local needs in an era of evolving energy policies.

Overall, this resolution highlights Wyoming's undercompensated role in national resource production.