When Wyoming became a state in 1890, the federal government set aside public land to fund education, but the original law restricted the state to spending only the "interest" earned on those land trust funds. This bill updates that outdated language to say "earnings on" instead of "interest of," which matters because modern investment portfolios generate returns in forms other than traditional interest — like dividends and capital gains. The change would give Wyoming's education trust more flexibility to invest wisely and put more money toward schools.
Congressional Summary
Wyoming Education Trust Modernization ActThis bill provides Wyoming with more flexibility to invest the principal of its permanent school fund by allowing the state to use earnings generated from investment of the fund rather than only interest.By way of background, Congress created the fund when Wyoming became a state by granting certain federal lands to be held in a trust for the state. Proceeds from school trust land sales, exchanges, or disposals are deposited into the fund to support public schools.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-07-10
- Date Added
- 2026-04-06