Committee advances joint resolution asking Congress to let Wyoming administer federal oil, gas and coal leasing
October 11, 2025 | Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee, Select Committees & Task Force, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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Legislative staff presented a joint resolution to the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee on July 1 asking Congress to amend the Federal Mineral Leasing Act to permit the state of Wyoming to administer and manage oil, gas and coal leasing on federal lands within the state.
Talise Hansen, staff attorney for the Legislative Service Office (LSO), told the committee the draft resolution recounts the Mineral Leasing Act’s purpose, earlier coal-leasing moratoria and recent federal leasing activity. “This bill draft is a joint resolution requesting Congress to introduce a bill and enact law to amend the Federal Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the state of Wyoming to administer and manage oil, gas, and coal leasing on federal lands located in Wyoming,” Hansen said.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the measure is intended to give Wyoming more control over leasing so the state can maintain leasing activity if federal decisions, moratoria or shutdowns curtail federal sales. Committee members discussed administrative feasibility, fiscal impacts and whether the resolution should include other leasable minerals referenced in the Mineral Leasing Act (phosphate, potassium, sodium, oil shale). LSO advised the committee on drafting alternatives — for example, referencing the full Mineral Leasing Act by definition rather than listing minerals everywhere in the draft.
Debate and amendment: Committee members asked whether other states had pursued similar authority; LSO said it did not find another state. Members discussed the scope of the request and whether to include solid leasable minerals in addition to oil, gas and coal. The committee adopted a conceptual amendment to include “all minerals under the Federal Mineral Leasing Act” by reference so the resolution would not omit those minerals in multiple places.
Vote: The committee moved and approved the joint resolution as amended. Cochair Worf moved the measure; Senator Larson seconded. On a roll call, the committee recorded six ayes and no nays: Senator Dockstader (aye), Senator Larson (aye), Representative Davis (aye), Representative Erickson (aye), a cochair (aye), and Chairman Wharfe (aye). The LSO recorded the measure as 26LSO0204, "State management, federal mineral leases," and the committee voted to work the bill draft forward.
Next steps: The committee chair urged members to seek broad legislative support and to brief colleagues in both chambers; staff said a conceptual amendment would be prepared to incorporate the Mineral Leasing Act language where needed.
Talise Hansen, staff attorney for the Legislative Service Office (LSO), told the committee the draft resolution recounts the Mineral Leasing Act’s purpose, earlier coal-leasing moratoria and recent federal leasing activity. “This bill draft is a joint resolution requesting Congress to introduce a bill and enact law to amend the Federal Mineral Leasing Act to authorize the state of Wyoming to administer and manage oil, gas, and coal leasing on federal lands located in Wyoming,” Hansen said.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the measure is intended to give Wyoming more control over leasing so the state can maintain leasing activity if federal decisions, moratoria or shutdowns curtail federal sales. Committee members discussed administrative feasibility, fiscal impacts and whether the resolution should include other leasable minerals referenced in the Mineral Leasing Act (phosphate, potassium, sodium, oil shale). LSO advised the committee on drafting alternatives — for example, referencing the full Mineral Leasing Act by definition rather than listing minerals everywhere in the draft.
Debate and amendment: Committee members asked whether other states had pursued similar authority; LSO said it did not find another state. Members discussed the scope of the request and whether to include solid leasable minerals in addition to oil, gas and coal. The committee adopted a conceptual amendment to include “all minerals under the Federal Mineral Leasing Act” by reference so the resolution would not omit those minerals in multiple places.
Vote: The committee moved and approved the joint resolution as amended. Cochair Worf moved the measure; Senator Larson seconded. On a roll call, the committee recorded six ayes and no nays: Senator Dockstader (aye), Senator Larson (aye), Representative Davis (aye), Representative Erickson (aye), a cochair (aye), and Chairman Wharfe (aye). The LSO recorded the measure as 26LSO0204, "State management, federal mineral leases," and the committee voted to work the bill draft forward.
Next steps: The committee chair urged members to seek broad legislative support and to brief colleagues in both chambers; staff said a conceptual amendment would be prepared to incorporate the Mineral Leasing Act language where needed.
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