Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed a new law aimed at surveying and protecting petroglyphs and pictographs on state lands, County 10 reports.
The legislation, Senate File 91—now Senate Enrolled Act 91—was sponsored by the Select Committee on Tribal Relations and establishes legal protections for historic rock art in Wyoming.
Under the new law, damaging petroglyphs or pictographs on state land is now a misdemeanor offense, carrying a fine of up to $750, a potential six-month jail sentence, or both. However, while the bill sets up a framework for identifying and preserving these cultural artifacts, it lacks funding for implementation.
Originally, the bill proposed $441,340 in funding for the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to survey, document, and create 3D models of rock art sites. However, after the Wyoming Senate failed to pass the state’s supplemental budget bill, lawmakers removed the funding to keep the legislation alive.
Wyoming Rep. Andrew Byron (R-Jackson) introduced the amendment to eliminate funding, arguing that keeping financial appropriations could jeopardize the bill’s passage. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Lloyd Larsen (R-Lander), questioned how the state agency would conduct surveys without funding support. Despite these concerns, some legislators, like Rep. Ivan Posey (D-Fort Washakie), supported the bill, believing funding could be revisited in next year’s legislative session.
An attempt to require the agency to request funding for the 2026-2027 budget was narrowly rejected in a 25-26 vote.
Before SF 91 was enacted, Wyoming had no specific legal protections for petroglyphs on state land. Deputy Director Sara Sheen of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources noted that vandalism has been a recurring issue, with State Archaeologist Spencer Pelton emphasizing that once rock art is damaged, restoration is nearly impossible.
Sen. Cale Case (R-Lander) pointed to Fremont County’s rock art sites, which are rapidly deteriorating due to both vandalism and weathering. He stressed the urgency of documenting these images before they are lost forever.
Sen. Tim Salazar (R-Riverton), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, echoed this sentiment, saying he was “shocked” by how vulnerable these cultural artifacts are.
Although the law now protects Wyoming’s historic rock art, the lack of funding means that comprehensive documentation and preservation efforts remain uncertain. The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources may seek funding in future legislative sessions, but for now, enforcement will likely depend on existing resources.
