Meeting the Moment: Planning for a Responsible Energy Future with the Western Solar Plan Attend our virtual Conservation Cafeteria on the Western Solar Plan on Wednesday, April 3 at noon — RSVP here. If you’ve been following national energy trends, you may have noticed that 2022 was a big year. It was the first year in recent history that renewable energy surpassed coal generation in the U.S. As the cost of renewable energy continues to decline, and numerous state and federal policies continue to encourage decarbonization, it’s clear that renewable energy is here to stay. And that mean ..read more

In Wyoming, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful landscapes, abundant wildlife, and diverse opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you like to hike, bike, hunt, fish, or birdwatch, there is no doubt that the connections we’ve formed with these special places remains a primary reason many of us live — and travel — here. While enjoying everything Wyoming has to offer is essential to our quality of life, it’s even more essential that we work to protect it for future generations.  With many competing interests on public lands, growing recreational use, and increased stressors l ..read more

Post-session wrap-up and what’s next When I last wrote to you on March 11, the House and the Senate had just adjourned. As of this past Saturday, all bills that made it to the governor’s desk have been signed or vetoed. We’re now in that brief, beautiful pause between the end of the budget session and the start of interim meetings. Thank you for following along and making your voice heard. We hope you continue to do so! When we began this frenetic budget session in mid-February, 366 bills and resolutions were numbered for introduction. 125 of these made it through both chambers of the leg ..read more

That’s a wrap on the 2024 session! On my final night in Cheyenne, I took a late night walk around the Capitol. Snowflakes calmed the chaos in my mind from the past week, and the building’s beauty stood out against the backdrop of lights. As the 2024 session closed, I enjoyed a moment of quiet celebration. Personally, I celebrated my increased mobility (even being able to walk is a joy) and all that I’d learned during my first full session. Professionally, I celebrated conservation wins, the support of the Outdoor Council team, and you — our active, engaged members. It was also a moment to ..read more

Wyoming’s budget is in limbo The overall pace of the budget session may be slowing … but last week still kept us on our toes! (Gratefully, we were spared from any floor sessions extending into the wee hours, which happened several times in week two.) My personal highlight was time in the Senate Lobby with Outdoor Council executive director Carl Fisher and development director Tyler Cessor. Although the pair was here on a separate mission, they stepped in to lend a hand on HB67 after it was added to the list of bills to be discussed at the last minute. Their support felt representative of the ..read more

The budget advances with a Kelly Parcel win Another week down, and what a week it was! There were late work nights, down-to-the-wire votes, and even a few tears shed by conservation lobbyists … Fortunately, those were tears of relief, as lawmakers in both chambers voted to retain the sale of the Kelly Parcel to the federal government! Now, even as Meghan Riley, WOC’s wildlife program manager, and I attempt to catch up on sleep, we’re hurtling into the third week of the session. We’re past the halfway mark, and over half of the bills are dead. And while it may have taken some late nights, both ..read more

Budget Discussions Will Pick Up Steam this Week I entered the doors of the Capitol last week full of both excitement and a bit of trepidation: Which bills would be introduced? Which bills would move forward, and which bills would die a swift death? And — would my lingering leg injury, sustained on a Search and Rescue mission last year, impede my ability to advocate? Now, with the first week of the session behind us, I am happy to report that the Capitol is quite possibly one of the best places in the state to get around on a scooter — and that most of the bills we were concerned with met an e ..read more

The journey from bill to law For me, today’s not just another Monday. It’s the kickoff to the budget session of the 67th Wyoming Legislature — a day that’s been circled in big, bold strokes on my calendar for months. So what will happen, you ask, on this Not-Just-Any-Monday? Let’s start with what we know: When this email reaches your inbox, I’ll be on my way to the Capitol. At 10 a.m., Gov. Mark Gordon will deliver his State of the State address to the House and the Senate. And at 2 p.m., both chambers will hold opening ceremonies before beginning their discussions on the many, many non-budge ..read more

Demystifying Wyoming’s Budget: All Your Questions, Answered One week from today, the 93 citizen lawmakers of the Wyoming State Legislature will convene to kick off the 2024 legislative session — a budget session. Before that, though, let’s do a quick gut check: What happens when you hear the words, “It’s time to talk about the state’s budget?” If you’re as engrossed in state fiscal policy as I am, maybe these words cause your ears to perk up … but if you’re not, it’s likely your eyes are already glazing over and you may be asking yourself why the state’s budget should matter to you at all. I ..read more

THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: WHAT TO KNOW NOW Get ready for the rodeo … the 2024 session of the Wyoming Legislature is almost here! Last May, I proudly stepped into the role of government affairs manager at the Outdoor Council. In the nine or so months since then, I’ve been singularly focused on preparing for the upcoming session. From endless reading, research, and meetings to time spent cultivating relationships, it’s all been in support of our work in the halls of the Capitol, which will kick off in just two short weeks. Soon, there will be nothing left to do but jump in the saddle and ho ..read more