Washington, D.C. – Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) today released the following statement and list highlighting some Wyoming specific wins included in the One Big Beautiful Bill that passed the Senate today.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill represents a victory for our state and our nation’s future,” Lummis said. “This legislation reverses years of federal policies that hurt Wyoming’s energy workers and families, instead focusing on real American priorities: expanding domestic energy production, cutting taxes for working families, and backing our ranchers and farmers.”
Background:
Coal Industry:
- Reduced Royalty Rates: Cuts federal coal royalty rates from 12.5% to 7% for new and existing leases through 2034 to incentivize production and increase revenue.
- Mandatory New Leases: Requires Interior Secretary to lease at least 4 million additional acres of known recoverable coal reserves within 90 days of enactment.
- Enhanced Market Access: Eliminates regulatory barriers that have prevented coal development on federal lands.
Oil & Gas:
- Quarterly Lease Sales: Mandates BLM hold quarterly lease sales in nine Western states, including Wyoming, for ten years.
- Extended Drilling Permits: Increases drilling permits from three to four years, providing greater operational certainty.
- Eliminated Bureaucratic Fees: Removes the $5-per-acre Expression of Interest Fee that previously discouraged land nominations.
- Restored Competitive Framework: Reinstates noncompetitive leasing to encourage exploration and streamlines surface commingling applications.
- Fair Royalty Rates: Restores pre–Inflation Reduction Act royalty rate of 12.5%, reversing punitive increases.
- Faster NEPA Timelines: Introduces optional expedited environmental review process under NEPA, allowing project sponsors to pay fees for faster timelines (one year for Environmental Impact Statements, six months for Environmental Assessments).
Timber Sales & Wildfire Prevention:
- Mandatory Timber Contracts: Requires USFS to enter 40 long-term timber sale contracts between 2025-2034 to reduce wildfire risk, boost the economy, and create WY jobs.
State & Local Revenue:
- Fair Revenue Distribution: Directs 25% of renewable energy revenue from public lands to state where the lease operates.
- County Support: Allocates additional 25% to counties based on project location, ensuring local communities benefit from development.
Bureau of Reclamation Investment:
- $1 Billion Investment: Dedicated funding for restoration and expansion of surface water storage facilities. Wyoming has seven irrigation districts and water storage capacity.
- Conveyance Facility Improvements: Funds construction activities that restore or increase capacity of existing facilities.
Livestock Protection:
- Depredation Reimbursement: Provides compensation for livestock losses due to wolves, bears, and eagles.
- Drought/Fire Relief: Expands eligibility and payments for grazing losses on federal lands
- Risk Management: Strengthens programs for disease preparedness, lab testing, and vaccine stockpiles.
Market Access & Production:
- Export Promotion: Creates permanent $285 million annual USDA program for agricultural export marketing.
- Base Acre Expansion: Allows enrollment of up to 30 million new base acres to address Western producer inequities.
- Production History Recognition: Includes previously ineligible lands in farm programs.
Estate Tax Relief:
- Increased Exemption: Raises estate tax exemption to $15 million (single)/$30 million (married), indexed for inflation.
- Generational Help: Helps families pass ranches and farms to next generation without crushing tax burden.
Business Investment Incentives:
- Equipment Expensing: Restores 100% immediate expensing for new and used equipment – making it easier to invest in growth and resilience strategies for our hard-working ranchers
- Investment Threshold: Raises immediate expensing cap to $2.5 million for equipment and property purchases.
- Rural Economic Development: Provides powerful tools for reinvestment in operations and rural community growth.
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