Creation of a pathway for Wyoming communities to access state grants for outdoor recreation and  tourism improvements is the work of a Park County legislator.

Rep. Sandy Newsome (R-Cody) is the sponsor of HB 67, Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund Administration-2 in the 2024 Budget Session in Cheyenne. 

The $6 million Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund Account was established in law and funded during the 2023 Legislature, but lacked a governance structure to allocate grants to invest in recreation projects in Wyoming. That’s where Newsome’s HB 67 comes in. It would provide the elements and the process by which funds  could be allocated for outdoor recreation projects in the state.

Newsome likes the fact that the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund Account is funded with tourism dollars — not general fund dollars. The source of trust fund revenue is the statewide lodging tax, which is divided into two funds. Eighty percent goes into the tourism spending fund. Twenty percent goes into the reserve and projects fund. The $6 million would come out of the reserve and projects fund, and is a reoccurring appropriation.  

Similarly to the administration of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust, HB 67 would set up a nine-member board appointed by the governor. This board would develop rules and decide on the disbursements of funding for projects up to $200,000. 

HB 67 was introduced in the State House of Representatives by a vote of 51-10. After approval by the House Travel, Recreation and Wildlife Committee, chaired by Newsome, and the House Appropriations Committee, it cleared Committee of the Whole on first reading
Wednesday by the full House.

The 20-day budget session runs through March 8.  Wednesday, Feb. 21 was the last day for bills to be heard in their House of origin.