Energy

This Wyoming bill (SF 3) makes trespassing at commercial nuclear facilities a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $1,000 fine. It creates legal protections for security guards at these facilities, allowing them to use defensive force - including deadly force - to prevent specific crimes like burglary, radiological sabotage, or assaults within protected areas. Guards may also detain suspected violators for law enforcement. The law applies to licensed nuclear facilities (like power plants) and their security personnel, defining "protected areas" as zones within physical barriers posted as restricted. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Wyoming's SJ 1 is a joint resolution requesting Congress to amend the federal Mineral Leasing Act. It seeks to authorize the state to manage mineral leasing (including oil, gas, and coal) on federal lands within Wyoming, currently overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. The resolution cites declining federal lease sales in Wyoming (e.g., from 122 parcels in 2022 to 8 in 2024) and lengthy regulatory delays as reasons for seeking state control. Wyoming argues this aligns with the 10th Amendment, giving states greater authority over natural resources within their borders. This is a request for federal legislative action, not an enacted law.

Wyoming's HB 5 modifies how oil and gas operators contribute to a bonding pool. It sets a zero assessment rate on oil/gas production from July 2025 through June 2030, after which the commission may impose up to 0.5 mills ($0.0005) per dollar of production value. All collected funds and investment earnings must be deposited into a separate account solely for the bonding pool, not used for other purposes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting oil and gas operators required to pay bonding assessments in Wyoming.