Signed by Governor Mark Gordon

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that appropriates $1.2 million to the governor and attorney general to challenge other state's coal mining projects impacting Wyoming coal exports.

Highlights:

• Alleges the production, sale, and consumption of coal contributes greatly to Wyoming's economy, contributing millions of dollars in taxes and other revenues annually to the state of Wyoming (Sec. 1.a.ii).

• Alleges the enactment and enforcement of laws by other states transitioning to the use of other forms of energy impede Wyoming's ability to export Wyoming coal to other states and countries and disproportionately impact Wyoming's coal-fired electric generation facilities (Sec. 1.vi).

• Appropriates $1,200,000.00 from the general fund to the office of the governor for purposes of commencing and prosecuting lawsuits against other states and other states' agencies that enact and enforce laws, regulations, or other actions that impermissibly impede Wyoming's ability to export coal or that cause the early retirement of coal-fired generation facilities located in Wyoming (Sec. 2).

• Establishes an account within the office of the governor into which the funds appropriated under this section as created by this act shall be deposited. The funds in the account shall be continuously appropriated to the office of the governor to fund any litigation expenses incurred following this act (Sec. 2).

• Requires the governor and the attorney general to report to the joint appropriations committee and the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee on (Sec. 3.a):

• The expenditure of any funds appropriated in section 2 of this act for litigation to challenge laws or other actions that impede the export of Wyoming coal or the continued operation of Wyoming's coal-fired electric generation facilities, including early retirements of those facilities;

• The status of any litigation initiated or concluded using the funds appropriated in section 2 of this act. The governor and attorney general may present the information required by this paragraph in executive session; and

• Any recommendations for further legislation necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act or for additional funding for litigation related to the purposes of this act.

Full Bill Text