Good neighbor authority-amendments, the official text

ORIGINAL Senate
File No. SF0017

ENROLLED ACT NO. 14, SENATE

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

AN ACT relating to state lands; removing the restriction on the number of authorized good neighbor authority employee positions; requiring employee positions to be funded only using funds from the Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account; authorizing gifts, donations and bequests to be deposited into the account; prohibiting the acceptance of real property for purposes of the good neighbor authority; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1. W.S. 36‑1‑502 and 36‑1‑503(b) are amended to read:

36‑1‑502. Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account; creation; investment of funds; authorized expenditures.

(a) There is created the Wyoming state forestry good neighbor authority revolving account. The account shall include all legislative appropriations, federal funds, county funds, partner funds, funds generated from good neighbor authority projects or other federally funded cooperative forest management projects, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, donations and all income from investments of monies in the account. The state forester is specifically empowered to accept grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations for deposit in the account, including those which are limited in their purpose by the grantor except as provided in W.S. 36‑1‑503(a)(vi). If a contract is entered into pursuant to W.S. 36‑1‑503(a)(iii), funds in the account may be expanded on good neighbor authority projects prior to receipt of federal fund reimbursements. Funds deposited into the account are continuously appropriated to the state forester to be expended only as provided in this section. Unless otherwise specifically provided, appropriations to the account shall not lapse or revert at the end of any fiscal period.

(b) Upon written approval of the state forester, expenditures shall be made out of the account for good neighbor authority projects, or other cooperative forest management projects or hiring additional employees under W.S. 36‑1‑503(b).

36‑1‑503. Powers and duties of state forester.

(b) The state forester may hire additional employees as necessary to conduct good neighbor authority projects or other federally funded cooperative forest management projects funded through the account. Employees hired under this subsection shall be funded using federal funds deposited in the account. The state forester shall not fill more than four (4) full‑time employee positions and six (6) at‑will employee contract positions under this subsection.

Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2026.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

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