The bill establishes a policy in Wyoming that mandates the federal government to exchange federal-owned lands when acquiring additional property in the state. It amends existing laws to clarify that any land conveyed to the state by the federal government does not need to be in the same area as the lands exchanged back to the federal government. Additionally, the bill requires that any transfer of state-owned lands to the federal government must be conditioned on an exchange of federal-owned lands, ensuring that there is no net increase in federal-owned lands in Wyoming after July 1, 2024.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a notification requirement for the federal government to inform the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners at least 90 days prior to any acquisition that does not involve an exchange of equivalent federal-owned lands. It also outlines a process for disposing of any state lands that would result in a net increase in state lands, including criteria for applications from potential land transferees and preferences for adjoining landowners. The effective date for these provisions is set for July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-1-105, 36-10-101