36-9-112. Granting of patents; reservation of minerals.
(a) Whenever the purchaser of any state land, or his assign, has complied with all the conditions of this act and has paid all the purchase money therefor, together with the lawful interest thereon, he shall receive a patent for the land purchased. Such patent shall run in the name of the state of Wyoming, it shall be signed by the governor, and countersigned by the director, and attested by the seal of the board. Such patent signed and executed as aforesaid shall convey a good and sufficient title to the patentee therein named. A fee interest in any state land may be perfected only as herein provided and only by express grant by the state of Wyoming for that purpose.
(b) Patents issued by the state of Wyoming shall contain a reservation to the state of all the minerals, whether or not now known, or which may be discovered hereafter, together with the right of ingress and egress to prospect for, mine, and remove such minerals. The board of land commissioners is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the exchange of mineral rights on a value for value basis. The exchange program may authorize a cash equalization receipt or payment of up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the mineral rights. Any receipt shall be deposited into, and any payment shall be made from, the permanent land fund.