Bill > HB0055

This bill establishes the Wyoming Homestead Opportunity Program to address housing shortages by allowing eligible individuals to purchase state-owned land, referred to as "eligible parcels," at a nominal cost of one dollar per acre, with the land being designated as "lots" of ten acres each, excluding mineral rights. Eligible purchasers are defined as U.S. citizens who have resided in Wyoming for at least one year, and they are prohibited from owning more than twenty-five acres statewide under this program, with business entities being entirely excluded from purchasing or owning these lots. The program requires that these lots be used exclusively for single-family residential purposes, with strict covenants preventing commercial, industrial, or multi-family use, and prohibiting subdivision or replatting of the lots. Purchasers must obtain a certificate of occupancy for a single-family dwelling and occupy it as their primary residence for at least five consecutive years, with the possibility of the state reclaiming ownership, or "reversion," if these covenants or occupancy requirements are violated, though the state will refund the original purchase price and closing costs in such cases. The bill also mandates that the Office of State Lands and Investments create planned communities of these lots, known as "homestead clusters," and requires compliance with local land use regulations, while explicitly stating the state is not obligated to provide utilities. Finally, the bill includes an appropriation of $250,000 for a study on the program's administration and enforcement, and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.

https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2026/HB0055