This bill establishes the Wyoming Game and Fish Trust Fund, which repurposes the existing trust account from W.S. 23-1-501(f) into a new fund designated for the Game and Fish Department. The trust fund will consist of designated funds, contributions, and donations, and it allows the State Treasurer to invest the unobligated balance in equities, including stocks. The bill outlines a spending policy that permits the transfer of up to four percent of a rolling multi-year average market value of the trust account to the Wyoming game and fish fund each fiscal year, starting from July 1, 2028. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reporting on the funds transferred from the trust fund to the game and fish fund.

The bill also includes provisions for funding the trust fund through various mechanisms, such as appropriations, severance tax distributions, and investment earnings. It amends existing laws to ensure that revenues from conservation stamp sales are directed to the new trust fund instead of the previous trust account. The bill repeals the old trust account and specifies that all funds and earnings from it will be transferred to the new trust fund by July 1, 2027. Overall, this legislation aims to enhance the financial stability and investment potential of the Game and Fish Department's funding sources.

Statutes affected:
27LSO-0058 v0.5: 39-14-801, 9-4-715, 23-1-503, 23-1-501