Wyoming Governor Signs Bills to Claim More Control Over Federal Minerals

CHEYENNE — Gov. Mark Gordon signed two resolutions into law on March 2, 2026, intensifying Wyoming's campaign for greater control over mineral resources on federal lands amid federal shutdowns and policy shifts threatening state revenues. House Joint Resolution 2 seeks to hike Wyoming's share of federal mineral royalties from roughly 49% to 87.5%, leaving the federal government with 12.5%. These royalties, generated from coal, oil and gas extraction on federal lands, fund critical state needs like schools, roads and local governments across Wyoming's vast energy-producing regions such as the Powder River Basin.

The second measure, Senate Joint Resolution 1, urges Congress to amend the federal Mineral Leasing Act, granting Wyoming authority to administer and manage mineral leasing on mutually agreed federal lands within state borders. An amendment ensures federal approval and state compensation for administrative costs, addressing concerns while affirming Wyoming's 10th Amendment rights to oversee resources not expressly prohibited by federal law. The Wyoming Legislature's Federal Natural Resources Committee advanced SJ 1 after these tweaks, with the full Senate approving it for transmission to Congress.

Gordon directed Wyoming's secretary of state to forward copies of HJ 2 to the U.S. president, Senate president, House speaker and the state's congressional delegation, including Rep. Harriet Hageman, who has championed related federal reforms like NEPA changes to expedite Wyoming energy projects. These non-binding resolutions signal Wyoming's frustration with federal policies stalling fossil fuel production, vital to counties like Campbell and Sweetwater where mining and drilling sustain thousands of jobs. With energy royalties forming a backbone of the state's budget, the push underscores ongoing tensions between Cheyenne and Washington over the 48% of Wyoming land under federal control.