In Wyoming, a cautious public lands victory

On Jan. 20, public lands advocates across Wyoming celebrated a tenuous victory. In a move somewhat overshadowed by inauguration coverage, Wyoming Senate President Eli Bebout killed a proposed constitutional amendment that would have laid the groundwork for potential future transfers of federal lands to the state, citing doubt that the bill would have earned the necessary votes. Then, just ten days later, Wyoming House Majority Floor Leader David Miller filed another transfer bill, the latest in a spate of “land-grab” bills that have galvanized opposition among Wyoming sportsmen and conservationists.

Since 2013, the state legislature has considered a total of nine different transfer-related bills, including ones proposing the transfer of federal lands to state or private hands, calling for related studies, or detailing the processes for the sale and management of transferred land.

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