2026 Session Wrap: Wyoming

Legislators proposed and passed three wildfire related bills in the just concluded session, all aiming to boost suppression and mitigation efforts.

WY H.B.0036: Forestry division wildland fire modules

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Sponsor: Joint Appropriations Committee

Summary: The law authorizes the Wyoming State Forestry Division, under the Office of State Lands and Investments, to create 24 new employee positions specifically for wildland fire suppression efforts. The act aims to enhance Wyoming’s capacity for wildfire suppression and hazardous fuels reduction, aligning with the state’s priorities for public safety, environmental protection, and effective land management.

• These positions include four full-time regional fire managers and suppression module leaders, four nine-month temporary full-time positions, and 16 six-month temporary full-time positions.

• Appropriates $5,144,000 from the state’s general fund to support two specialized wildland fire suppression modules, covering personnel, equipment, training, certification, and supervision costs. The funding is allocated for use from the act’s effective date, April 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with any unspent funds reverting to the state after that period.
  • $1,000,000 is designated to be excluded from the standard budget for the
    next fiscal biennium.

WY H.B.0078: Forest health grant program

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Sponsor: Select Water Committee

Summary: Establishes the Forest Health Grant Program to support projects that enhance forest health across the state. The program will be administered by the state forester, who is responsible for setting up the application process and other requirements not specified in the legislation.

• Grants may be awarded only to nonprofit and governmental organizations. Grants may cover up to 75% of the cost of eligible projects on state, local, or private lands, and up to 50% for projects on federal lands.

• Eligible projects must serve the public interest and may include efforts to improve water quality or yield, reduce wildfire risk, increase forest product output, enhance wildlife and livestock habitat, or other activities beneficial to forest health as determined by the state forester. All grants require review and approval by the attorney general.

• Create a dedicated Forest Health Grant Program Account, which will receive an initial appropriation of $3.5 million from the general fund, with funds remaining available until expended and not subject to reversion at the end of the fiscal year.

• The state forester shall report annually to the legislature on the grants awarded and their purposes.

WY S.F.0017: Good neighbor authority-amendments

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Sponsor: Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee

Summary: Removes the previous cap on the number of employee positions that could be hired under the Good Neighbor Authority, allowing the state forester to hire as many employees as necessary for good neighbor authority projects or other federally funded cooperative forest management projects.

• All positions must be funded exclusively from the Good Neighbor revolving account, which now may receive not only legislative appropriations, federal, county, and partner funds, but also grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, and donations.
  • Donations may not include real property.

• Account funds continuously appropriated and do not lapse at the end of a fiscal period, ensuring ongoing financial support for forestry projects. The effective date for these changes is July 1, 2026.

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This memo was prepared by CSG West staff using AI-assisted research tools, with findings reviewed and verified prior to publication. The Council of State Governments (CSG) is a nonpartisan organization that provides members with unbiased research based on peer-reviewed evidence, reliable data, facts, and objective analysis. CSG takes no position on any pending legislation, enacted laws; proposed or enacted regulations, executive orders or agreements, or other executive actions; past or present court rulings or orders; or any other governmental action or potential action mentioned in this brief or in any linked material. Additionally, CSG does not endorse the viewpoints of any outside author, source, or third-party publication mentioned; sources cited are for informational purposes only.