This column has been openly critical, and deservedly so, of the 2025 Wyoming legislature’s general session.
The body passed bills passed that spawned negative court rulings and appeals questioning their constitutionality.
Ninety-five bills died in the Speaker’s drawer. For the first time in recent memory, the legislature was unable to pass a budget.
Some good things happened, though. An example is one excellent bill that passed the Wyoming legislature this year.
In the wake of last summer’s disastrous fire season, the legislature passed Senate File 152, which gave the state tools to better fight wildland fires.
Tragic wildland fires are going to happen. Mother nature will not be denied. But being able to contain those fires before they start to run and create their own weather is a key. SF 152 was a great step in the right direction.
The bill clearly established authorization and oversight direction to State Forester to manage wildfire – authority which was unclear before.
Now, the state forester can pre-position and pay for fire assets when the conditions require them. Instead of waiting for the fire to get out of hand, forestry can get a head start by placing resources where fires are most likely to start.
Additionally, the bill allows for the training of firefighters. With the decline in volunteerism sweeping the country, replenishing the cadre of firefighters has become an annual necessity.
The bill doubled funding for aviation assets and seasonal firefighters to manage the aviation program. Additionally, State Forestry was granted the ability to effectively address the needs of the fire season through contracting.
Now, State Forestry can hire firefighters and pilots beyond helitack staffing. The state now has a new Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) base, SEATbase manager and 4 contracted SEATs.
By doubling the amount of aviation on the ground, Wyoming finally has a state-wide aviation response – something it never had before.
Through this bill, the legislature trusted state forestry to make the decisions on necessary aviation assets.
Instead of dictating how fires are fought from the political confines of Cheyenne, legislators delegated the decision making to fire management officers, creating efficiencies in the implementation of firefighting strategy.
Additionally, the bill funded the fire suppression costs from the 2024 fire season, paid back any necessary loans for fire suppression, and refilled the Emergency Fire Suppression Account to pay for suppression costs in 2025.
Wyoming does not, yet, have state-based hotshot crews and management teams, and relies heavily on county volunteers, as well as federal and other state resources to put out our fires. Having the money to pay people who help makes it possible to ask for help.
Finally, the bill funded restoration and recovery efforts on both private and state lands. The restoration efforts limit invasive weeds from taking over our lands.
The legislature wisely allowed the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust Fund allocate the funding, so the funds could be quickly spent with local government agencies to implement reclamation projects. We can all be proud of these efforts.
Cooperation of the legislature, the governor’s office, counties, firefighting entities, the agriculture community and many others was necessary to move this legislation forward.
While the bill was sponsored by Senator Eric Barlow, assisted by Aaron Clark, Chief Shad Cooper and Kate Barlow. The bill passed the legislature handily, including support from most of the Freedom Caucus.
The driving force behind the bill was Wyoming State Forester, Kelly Norris.
Standing all of 5’4” tall, Norris is a force of nature almost as powerful as a wildland fire. A wife and mother of two, she is an open-heart-surgery survivor, marathon runner and forest visionary. Her visits to testify in front of the US Congress on forest management are legendary.
Her poise, preparation, organization, vision and drive are a big part of passing this revolutionary legislation in a time of belt-tightening and budget cuts.
When it really matters, the people of Wyoming can come together and do what it takes to address the needs of the state. SF 152 is a perfect example of what we can do when we all share the same vision.
Good job, Wyoming, on this one. You did well.
Tom Lubnau served in the Wyoming Legislature from 2004 - 2015 and is a former Speaker of the House. He can be reached at: YourInputAppreciated@gmail.com
