Monday, February 23, 2026 |
Photo – Corner crossing image – Courtesy Supreme Court Documents
The corner crossing bill passed out of the House of Representatives despite objections from some lawmakers.
Last Thursday, the Wyoming House of Representatives passed House Bill 19, corner crossing clarification, on the third and final reading. The next step is for the bill to be debated by the state Senate.
Earlier this month, the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee voted to advance House Bill 19. The measure codifies the 10th Circuit Court’s decision that crossing from one parcel of public land to another at the corner is legal as long as the person does not touch the adjacent private property. To reduce the chances of conflict between outdoorsmen and landowners, the Committee amended the bill to prohibit corner crossing by vehicle or animal, requiring it to be done only on foot.
House Bill 19 was brought up for the third and final time during the February 19th House of Representatives session. Representative JD Williams introduced an additional amendment to delete the bill in its entirety, effectively killing it. The District-Two (Goshen, Niobrara, Weston) Republican said he does not support the 10th Circuit Court’s decision to legalize corner crossing.
Representative Williams added that House Bill 19 allows people to cross onto land owned by a local government, the state of Wyoming, or the federal government, and that the measure, as written, is too wide in scope for him to support.
Representative Andrew Byron, who chairs the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee, said whether Representative Williams agrees with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals or not, corner crossing is now legal. The District-22 (Lincoln, Teton) Republican said House Bill 19 simply provides law enforcement with clear guidelines for when a person is guilty of criminal trespass while crossing the checkerboard.
Representative Byron said the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee held a lengthy public meeting to address both sportsmen’s and landowners’ concerns.
Next, Representative Pam Thayer said she proposed the amendment to limit corner crossing to foot traffic, adding that Elk Mountain, where the corner crossing case began, lies within her district (Carbon, Sweetwater). HD-15 Representative Thayer said House Bill 19 is not going to satisfy everyone, but she views it as a step in the right direction.
Representative Ken Clouston said he appreciated that the bill limits corner crossing to foot traffic and asked if horseback travel will also be permitted. Representative Julie Jarvis, another member of the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee, said the board considered allowing horses, but ultimately decided it would pose too much risk to private property, particularly fences.
Representative Marilyn Connolly, who also sits on the House Travel Committee, said the group worked hard to make the bill more acceptable to both sportsmen and landowners. However, Representative Connolly said her District 40 (Johnson, Sheridan) constituents remain concerned about fence damage as more people travel to previously inaccessible public‑land parcels.
The Johnson and Sheridan County Republican asked who would be responsible for ensuring the corners between private and public land are correctly marked.
For those reasons, Representative Connolly said she would vote against House Bill 19.
Representative Robert Wharff of Evanston agreed that GPS technology is imprecise and doesn’t prevent trespassing on private property. Without accurate mapping, the Uinta County Republican said wildlife officers will be called to mediate between sportsmen and landowners.
Representative Wharff also said the bill does not specify if the state or landowners would be responsible for conducting more accurate surveys.
Despite his concerns, Representative Wharff said passing House Bill 19 will force the legislature to work together to resolve the existing corner‑crossing problems.
Representative J.R. Riggins, Republican from Natrona County, said property owners should not be required to mark their boundaries and added that he would advise sportsmen not to cross a corner without a clearly displayed brass plaque.
Representative Marilyn Connolly, Buffalo Republican, said hikers and hunters often travel in groups and questioned if they could be trusted to corner cross one at a time to avoid touching private property.
Casper, District 57 Representative Julie Jarvis, said that the Supreme Court, by agreeing not to hear the case, has made corner crossing legal. The Natrona County Republican said Wyoming’s outdoor enthusiasts, landowners, and law enforcement will be at odds if the state fails to put its own laws in place.
Republican Andrew Byron, representing Lincoln and Teton Counties, said House Bill 19 does not infringe on private property rights and noted that landowners can erect fences along their boundaries. He also pointed out that horses cannot be used to corner cross. Representative Byron accused opponents of resisting increased access to public land.
Following the discussion, Representative JD Williams, a rancher in Lusk, withdrew his amendment to delete the bill. House Bill 19 passed out of the House of Representatives by a vote of 32 for and 28 opposed.
The Senate will now decide whether to take up the measure during a future session.
