SJ 9 — Keeping public lands protected and decisions local.

STATEORIGINAL OF W YOMING 26LSO-0493 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION. NO.

SJ0009 KeepingENROLLED publicJOINT landsRESOLUTION protectedNO. and decisions local.

Sponsored4, by:SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress recognize the protection of Wyoming's freedom of access to public lands, to allow responsible development of resources, recreation, agriculture, hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation under multiple‑use frameworks, to protect local participation in land management decisions, and to keep public lands available to the people of Wyoming.

Senator(s)WHEREAS, Barlow,federal Anderson, Brennan, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, Gierau, Jones, Landen, Love, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Rothfuss and Schuler and Representative(s) Byron, Campbell, E, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Erickson, Filer, Geringer, Harshman, Jarvis, Larsen, L, Larson, JT, Lawley, Nicholas, Posey, Provenza, Sherwood, Storer, Thayer, Williams, Wylie and Yin A JOINT RESOLUTION for A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress recognize the protection of Wyoming's freedom of access to public lands,lands toare allowcentral responsible development of resources, recreation, agriculture, hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation under multiple‑use frameworks, to protectWyoming's localheritage, participationeconomy, inculture land management decisions, and toway keep public lands available to the people of Wyoming.life;

9and WHEREAS, federalwhile publicCongress landsand arethe centralexecutive branch have a duty to Wyoming'smanage heritage,these economy,lands culturefor multiple use and waysustained yield in the public interest, disposal of life;lands should not occur without meaningful input from state and local governments and affected communities;

and 1 SJ0009 STATE OFWYOMING 26LSO-0493 WHEREAS, whileWyoming Congressresidents andaccess theour executivefederal branchpublic have a duty to manage these lands formore multiplethan useany andother sustainedstate yield in the publicUnited interest,States, disposalwith ofapproximately landsninety-one shouldpercent not(91%) occurof withoutWyoming's meaningfulpopulation inpututilizing frompublic statelands andfor localwork, governmentsrecreation and affectedsubsistence; communities;

and 7 WHEREAS, Wyoming residents access our federal public lands more than any other state in the United States, with approximately ninety-one percent (91%) of Wyoming's population utilizing public lands for work, recreation and subsistence;

and SJ0009ORIGINAL STATESENATE OFWYOMINGJOINT 26LSO-0493RESOLUTION. 2 WHEREAS, Wyoming's firearms heritage, which is rooted in responsible ownership, hunting, sport shooting and self- reliance, is strengthened through growing youth shooting sports programs like those offered by 4-H, and supported by the expanding firearms industries in Wyoming, which contributes to education, workforce development, conservation and the state's outdoor economy;

SJ0009 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

4, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION WHEREAS, Wyoming's firearms heritage, which is rooted in responsible ownership, hunting, sport shooting and self- reliance, is strengthened through growing youth shooting sports programs like those offered by 4-H, and supported by the expanding firearms industries in Wyoming, which contributes to education, workforce development, conservation and the state's outdoor economy;

and WHEREAS, although existing federal laws already provide a process for land purchases, exchanges or limited disposals when a clear and justified public purpose exists, including Title 43 of the United States Code governing public lands, and such processes have been used successfully in Wyoming, SJ0009 STATE OFWYOMING 26LSO-0493 those processes need to be more efficient and less costly for both public and private landowners;

and 4 WHEREAS, recent proposals and public discussions have raised concern regarding broad, quota-driven or large-scale sales of federal public lands as a policy or revenue mechanism, without sufficient local input or analysis;

and 9 WHEREAS, widespread disposal of public lands without clear criteria shifts significant long-term costs for access, wildfire response, infrastructure and law enforcement onto state and local governments without dedicated funding;

and WHEREAS,ORIGINAL Wyoming'sSENATE countiesJOINT haveRESOLUTION. adopted land-use and natural resource plans through public processes tailored to their unique needs, and actions that disregard these plans erode local governance and the spirit of federalism;

SJ0009 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

4, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION WHEREAS, Wyoming's counties have adopted land-use and natural resource plans through public processes tailored to their unique needs, and actions that disregard these plans erode local governance and the spirit of federalism;

and 4 SJ0009 STATE OFWYOMING 26LSO-0493 WHEREAS, agriculture, natural resource and recreation industries in Wyoming are the best and proudest stewards of public lands;

and 5 WHEREAS, if land disposal is determined to be necessary then Wyoming community input must be a consideration because meaningful improvements to land management are best achieved through stakeholder engagement, streamlining existing processes and community-led solutions grounded in local knowledge with robust local public input and consultation with state and local government.

That the state of Wyoming demands Congress and federal agencies respect existing land management frameworks, county land-use plans and the voices of local communities most directly affected by federal land decisions, SJ0009 STATE OFWYOMING 26LSO-0493 especially when evaluating any proposed changes to federal land management or the disposition of lands.

4ORIGINAL SectionSENATE 3.JOINT RESOLUTION.

SJ0009 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

4, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION Section 3.

SectionORIGINAL 5.SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION.

SJ0009 ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

4, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION Section 5.

(END) SJ0009I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Speaker of the House President of the Senate Governor TIME APPROVED:

_________ DATE APPROVED:

_________ I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk 5