Federal mineral royalties-state share, the official text

ORIGINAL House ENGROSSED
JOINT RESOLUTION. HJ0002

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

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%).

WHEREAS, in Wyoming, approximately forty-six percent (46%) of the surface land area and more than sixty-nine percent (69%) of the subsurface resources of the state of Wyoming are owned by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, under the federal Mineral Leasing Act, fifty percent (50%) of all money received from sales, bonuses, royalties and rentals from federal mineral leasing is distributed to the states where the lands or deposits are located, excluding Alaska; and

WHEREAS, under the federal Mineral Leasing Act, Alaska receives ninety percent (90%) of all money received from sales, bonuses, royalties and rentals from federal mineral leasing; and

WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2024, Wyoming received five hundred ninety million nine hundred twenty thousand nine hundred seventy-one dollars ($590,920,971.00) in federal mineral royalties; and

WHEREAS, Congress enacted into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, 2025; and

WHEREAS, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduces the federal mineral royalty rate for oil and gas leasing on federal lands from sixteen and sixty-seven hundredths percent (16.67%) to twelve and one-half percent (12.5%); and

WHEREAS, the reduction in the federal mineral royalty rate on oil and gas leasing on federal lands is estimated to reduce Wyoming's state share of federal mineral royalties by approximately six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000.00) in fiscal year 2026, increasing annually to approximately four million dollars ($4,000,000.00) in fiscal year 2030; and

WHEREAS, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduces the federal mineral royalty rate for coal leasing on federal lands from twelve and one-half percent (12.5) to seven percent (7%); and

WHEREAS, the reduction in the federal mineral royalty rate on coal leasing on federal lands is estimated to reduce Wyoming's state share of federal mineral royalties by approximately fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00) annually until 2034; and

WHEREAS, the reduction in the federal mineral royalty rates will reduce the revenues available for Wyoming's roads, bridges and highways, kindergarten through grade twelve (12) education, higher education, capital construction, emergency responders and general operations of government; and

WHEREAS, transportation, education and emergency response resources are vital to Wyoming and its citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

(a) That the Wyoming Legislature requests that Congress introduce and enact legislation that:

(i) Will increase the state of Wyoming's share of federal mineral royalties from fifty percent (50%) to eighty-seven and one-half percent (87.5%);

(ii) Will provide for revenue distribution consistent with federal statutory formulas, provided that the two percent (2%) administrative cost deduction authorized under 30 U.S.C. § 191(b) shall be allocated to and retained by the state of Wyoming in lieu of retention by the United States government.

Section 2. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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