SF 16 Wyoming House · 2026 Regular Session

Subleasing of state lands-exemptions.

Wyoming's SF 16 modifies rules for leasing state grazing lands. It requires lessees who sublease land to pay half the "excess rental" (the extra money earned from subleasing over the base rent) to the state. The bill also creates a new rule allowing lessees to graze non-owned livestock without sublease approval, but they must document the livestock, report it within 30 days, and pay a monthly fee per animal (capped at 50% of the annual grazing fee). These changes directly affect ranchers and land lessees who sublease state lands or manage livestock not owned by them.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Signed Mar 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 3, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates Wyoming state land lease rules to clarify how non-owned livestock are handled and introduces a new fee structure. It adds a requirement for lessees to pay a monthly fee for livestock they do not own, while simultaneously creating an exemption for lessees who share at least 80% ownership of the land and the livestock with the same entity. The bill also repeals outdated sections regarding non-owned livestock documentation.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope by adding a financial fee for non-owned livestock but narrows the requirement for approval by the director, as lessees with 80% common ownership are now exempt from needing director approval for these animals.
FISCAL

A new monthly fee per head of non-owned livestock was added, capped at 50% of the annual animal unit month rental rate, to be paid within 30 days of removing the livestock.

ELIGIBILITY

An exemption was created for lessees who can prove 80% or greater common ownership of both the state grazing lease and the livestock, waiving the need for a sublease or non-owned livestock fee.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for a lessee to obtain director approval to graze non-owned livestock was removed, provided the lessee submits notice to the board within 30 days of the livestock's arrival.

Outdated provisions requiring lessees to provide specific documentation and forms for non-owned livestock were repealed.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2026 · House Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

291
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 31
Feb 12, 2026
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican29
27 Yea 1 Nay 1
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
8
Committee
4
Mar 3, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed SEA No. 0011
legislature
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
S Concur:Passed 29-0-1-0-1
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
H 3rd Reading:Passed 57-2-3-0-0
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
H COW:Passed
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-2-0-0
lower
Feb 16, 2026
Introduced
H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
S 3rd Reading:Passed 29-1-0-0-1
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
S COW:Passed
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture 28-2-0-0-1
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.