Gordon signs first round of 2025 legislative bills

On Feb. 24, Gov. Mark Gordon signed the first bills of the 2025 Wyoming Legislation Session at Capitol Hill in Cheyenne.

According to a news release from the governor’s office later the same day, the first bill signed by the governor was Senate File (SF) 0020, Oil and gas bonding-options and bonding pools, a bill providing support for producers in Wyoming’s core oil and gas industry.

SF0020 was sponsored by the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee, which benefits Wyoming’s energy industry and provides additional support for small oil and gas operators.  

The bill was formulated in response to the significant bonding requirements introduced during the Biden administration, which posed challenges for many oil and gas producers in Wyoming. 

The bill establishes an account to allow small operators to cover the costs of bonding and, eventually, the costs of plugging dry or abandoned wells.

“Wyoming has always had a leadership position on these issues,” Gordon states, thanking industry partners and the legislature for working on the issue. “This is a wonderful bill.” 

Bills signed

The governor also signed House Bill (HB) 0075, Coal severance tax rate. This bill reduces the coal severance tax rate from 6.5 to six percent, bringing it in line with oil and gas severance tax rates. 

The Senate Revenue Committee, chaired by Sen. Troy McKeown (R-S24), passed HB0075 on Feb. 12 on a three-to-one vote before heading to the Senate’s Committee of the Whole the following day where it then passed the third reading in the House on Feb. 18 on a 57-to-four vote.

Also signed was HB0054, Chancery court judges-district and circuit court assistance, sponsored by the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee.

HB0054 will help address heavy caseloads in Wyoming’s District and Circuit courts by allowing Wyoming’s Chancery Court judge to hear cases in those courts.

The bill passed through legislation quickly, passing the Senate’s third reading on Feb. 14 with a a vote of 31 to zero and cleared the House two days later with a vote of 60 to zero.

Additional bills signed

Gordon endorsed 42 bills in all and among them was HB0061, sponsored by Rep. Dalton Banks (R-H46), titled “State land leases preference amendments.”

The bill received broad support in both the House and Senate and was designed to grant individuals who are adhering to the terms of their state land lease a preferred right to renew their lease, thereby fostering stability and consistency in land management.

According to Banks, landowners from around the state requested the legislation, citing issues through the State Lands Office with leases not being renewed because of issues beyond the current lease’s control. 

HB0069, Extending the authority of the Secretary of State to dissolution, revocation and forfeiture of entities owned or controlled by foreign government or persons deemed to be an adversary by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, was also adopted into law.

Additionally, SF0081, sponsored by Rep. Mike Yin (D-H16), was signed into law by the governor. This is a bill exempting all property owned by the state from property taxation through Dec. 31, 2026. 

Non-signature bills

Gordon allowed three bills to go into law without his signature. The Wyoming Gold Act was the first.

It requires the state to invest at least $10 million in gold, which Gordon called a “non-income producing asset.” 

According to Gordon’s letter to the Senate president, the state treasurer has the ability to include gold in the state’s investment portfolio, but he added the legislature requiring the investment “represents an invasion of the responsibilities of the executive branch.”

The Wyoming PRIME Act provides a framework to support local meat producers in selling homemade meat products with streamlined state and federal regulations, while also relieving them from the necessity of inspections. 

The governor declared the bill a “trigger law,” meaning it does not take effect until corresponding legislation at the federal level is passed into law.

SF0006 is the third bill enacted into law, which empowers homeowners to seek assistance from law enforcement in addressing issues with squatters.

The governor mentions he strongly believes in individuals’ private property rights, despite his concern for adequate due process.

Coming to a close

Currently, lawmakers are trying to usher dozens of policy priorities through the House, Senate and joint conference committees ahead of their tentative adjournment on March 6 but can overturn Gordon’s vetoes with a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber. 

Gordon will have up to 15 days after adjournment to file his objections to unsigned bills with the secretary of state.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.