The second week of the 2026 budget session was definitely one for the books. The work of the legislature has been mired in the “checkgate” controversy, where a wealthy Jackson conservative donor has been accused of handing out campaign finance checks of the floor of the legislature. This scandal has overshadowed much of the work taking place in the House, and a criminal investigation has been opened by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office.
But on to actual legislative business…
Education
Only a handful of education bills remain, and the majority are not punitive nor do they harm public education. SF35 (School District Cell Phone and Smart Watch Policies), SF36 (Hathaway Lump Sum Merit Scholarship) and SF47 (Increase of Hathaway Scholarship Award) are among those good education bills working their way through the process.
However, there are some anti-public education bills remaining. HB10 (Sexually Explicit Materials in Libraries) passed the House and is now headed to the Senate for introduction and referral. Additionally, one of the most damaging bills to WEA members is HB178 (Public Unions Transparency and Dues Withdraw Limitations). This bill would eliminate payroll dues deduction and would require non-government organizations to report information such as member information and organization expenses; counter to the Wyoming value of opposing big government. This bill is an effort to silence teachers and the WEA.
Freedom Caucus members and Americans for Prosperity used a non-transparent tactic of pulling the bill from the original committee and assigning it to one where those public-education opponents believed they had the votes to move it forward. After impassioned comments against the legislation, the House’s Committee of the Whole ultimately passed the bill. But it’s not over: we are urging members to reach out to their respective senators and ask them to vote no on HB178.
Recalibration
The recalibration bill was taken up in the Senate Education Committee on Monday, where a significant number of positive changes were made to the bill, including:
- A substantial increase in salaries (an increase even from the already-increased amount)
- ADM to be the greater of either a two-year average or the previous year
- ECA to be provided on an annual basis
- Increase the number of FTEs and dollars for specialist and elective teachers
- Increase the FTEs for pupil support
- Fully fund nurses and counselors as required by the court effective year one
- Delay state insurance mandate for two years while an actuarial study is completed to determine actual costs (Districts may still choose their insurance up to that point and Districts receive funding only for those employees that use the district insurance in the previous year)
- $10 million grant used for direct reimbursement for dual enrollment
The WEA is still opposed to the insurance mandate. We support an actuarial study but see no reason to set a date for the insurance mandate while that study is being completed. The bill passed the Senate’s Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
The Senate has done some incredible work on the bill as it came to them. Too many times they only hear from us when we wish to admonish them. WEA believes that it is just as important to let them know when they have done good work. Please consider reaching out to the Education Committee Senators or even the Senate body and thank them for their work.
Budget
The second week of the session was not without its own highs and lows. Tuesday evening, the House worked until roughly 1:30am on the second reading of the budget bill. The Senate moved quickly through their budget bill process, and both chambers are scheduled to complete their third reading budget bill amendments on Friday. As of now, there is a substantial difference between the House and Senate budget bills. Compared to the budget that the Joint Appropriations Committee brought to the session, the Senate (who opted to adopt most of Gov. Gordon’s recommendations) has added $366 million in spending, while the House added just $1.1 million. With such disparity between the two chambers, a fight over the budget seems inevitable with common-sense conservatives in the Senate leading an effort to support the state and the people of Wyoming, while and the Freedom Caucus-controlled House gutted agencies and departments, jeopardizing the economic stability of the state and likely causing significant problems for the people of Wyoming.
Property Tax Bills
While the majority of property tax cut bills died early, a handful still remain – including one of great importance: HB147 (Property Tax Exemptions – Effect of Peoples Initiative). This November, the people of Wyoming will vote on a constitutional amendment to reduce residential property taxes by 50%.
Last session, the Legislature passed a 25% cut to property taxes. The severe and negative consequences of that action are already being felt across the state. If this new initiative were to pass, the effect would be catastrophic to not just education but to those who depend on services such as fire, EMS, schools, and other essential services. Further, the state will have to make up that revenue in another form of taxation whether that being a significant increase in sales tax or even a state-income tax. WEA is urging Wyoming teachers and voters to reject the ballot initiative. Please make sure (double-check if necessary) that you are registered to vote … and vote in both your primary election and general election this year!
In solidarity!
P.S. – You can always find information on the WEA Legislative Hub (including the Bill Tracker and Legislators’ Scorecard), and be sure to encourage your friends, family or colleagues who are education advocates to sign up for our legislative updates.