Wyoming Education Trust Modernization Act

H.R. 4328 would amend Wyoming's 1890 State Act of Admission to modernize how the state invests its permanent school land trust fund. Currently, Wyoming's $5.4 billion school trust fund generates approximately 5% annual returns under restrictive investment rules established over a century ago. The bill would allow the state to use a broader range of investment strategies to potentially increase annual returns from 5% to 8.3%, generating millions of additional dollars annually for Wyoming's K-12 schools without raising taxes or reducing the fund's principal.

The bill would preserve all existing constitutional protections for the education fund and maintain current restrictions on land disposal and exchanges. Only investment earnings would be available for spending on schools, keeping the principal intact. Supporters argue that modernizing investment policies is necessary because financial markets and investment strategies have evolved significantly since 1890, and updated flexibility would allow Wyoming to better support its students and teachers while maintaining long-term fund stability.