Well, it's over, thank goodness. And it turned out to be not nearly as bad as was feared, and it was feared to be pretty bad.
That doesn't really mean Wyoming is fully out of the woods here, however. The Confederate Caucus is a majority in the legislature, but they turned out to be ineffectual this time. Next session is a general session, and they will have fewer obstacles they have to deal with.
All of which makes the 2026 Election absolutely critical. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus needs to go. . .literally, back to where they came from. The sooner the better.
So what all happened?
A budget was passed, and without the bloodletting the Confederates wanted. That was a major victory for UW and the state. That's a singular impressive accomplishment. In addition to that, we have the following bills that Governor Gordon signed, with a few comments from me.:
HEA0001 HB0004 Birthing center-Medicaid coverage
HEA0002 HB0005 Oil and gas bonding pool-investment and earnings
HEA0003 HB0034 Firefighters-retirement plans
HEA0004 HB0035 Firefighters - paid leave and hazard pay
SEA0002 SF0018 Attendance of students in K-12 schools
This is the "schools open to all" statute. It was amended to include students attending school on a part time basis.
SEA0003 SF0031 Uniform mortgage modification act.
SEA0004 SF0047 Increase of Hathaway scholarship awards.
SEA0005 SF0030 Elections-voter registration revisions.
SEA0006 SF0024 Lottery tickets-acceptance of debit card payments.
SEA0007 SF0011 Burials of indigent veterans-amendments.
SEA0008 SF0008 Absconding for criminal purposes-criminal offense.
SEA0009 SF0007 Theft amendments.
SEA0010 SF0005 Hospital bankruptcy proceedings.
SEA0011 SF0016 Subleasing of state lands-exemptions
SEA0012 SF0006 Eligibility for Medicaid-criteria.
SEA0013 SF0009 Fentanyl to minors-enhanced penalty.
SEA0014 SF0017 Good neighbor authority-amendments.
SEA0015 SF0032 911 funding.
SEA0016 SF0052 2026 large project funding.
SEA0017 SF0068 Water districts-funds for maintenance projects.
SEA0018 SF0079 Sales and use tax reorganization.
SEA0019 SF0080 Department of revenue-electronic communication.
SEJR0001 SJ0001 State management-federal mineral leases.
SEA0001 SF0002 Legislative Budget
SEA0020 SF0019 Epinephrine delivery methods.
SEA0021 SF0022 Unincorporated nonprofit associations-amendments.
SEA0023 SF0071 Wyoming department of homeland security.
SEA0024 SF0053 Keeping amateurism in high school athletics.
A new statute providing:
21‑25‑401. Amateur status requirements.
(a) A student who represents a Wyoming high school in a sport or activity sanctioned by the Wyoming high school activities association shall be an amateur in that sport or activity as provided in this section.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a student forfeits amateur status in a sport or activity by:
(i) Competing for or accepting money or other monetary compensation for competing in that sport or activity;
(ii) Receiving any award or prize of monetary value for competing in that sport or activity that exceeds the amount that has been approved by the Wyoming high school activities association;
(iii) Capitalizing on the student's athletic fame or the student's name, image or likeness by receiving money, gifts of monetary value, merchandise or other consideration related to competing in that sport or activity;
(iv) Signing a professional playing contract in that sport or activity. This paragraph shall not prohibit signing a letter of intent or similar document to commit to a college, provided that no compensation is paid in any manner while the student is participating in the sport or activity.
(c) The following activities do not forfeit amateur status under this section:
(i) Accepting money or other monetary compensation provided by a family member to a student to encourage the student to participate in the sport or activity;
(ii) Accepting money or other monetary compensation for the time required for participation in the sport or activity in a competition, camp or event that is not sanctioned by the Wyoming high school activities association if the amount of the payment does not exceed an amount specified by the Wyoming high school activities association. If prize money is available in the competition, the student or the student's parent or guardian shall complete a written declaration prior to the competition that specifies that the student, and the student's parent or guardian if applicable, will not accept any prize money and will only accept awards that do not exceed the awards amount authorized by the Wyoming high school activities association. This paragraph shall not authorize the payment of any money or monetary compensation that is contingent upon the student's or the team's finish or performance or that is given as an incentive to achieve a specific goal or performance. Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to authorize the payment of any money or monetary compensation for participating in events sanctioned by the Wyoming high school activities association or for competing for or on behalf of a Wyoming high school;
(iii) Accepting necessary meals, lodging and transportation to play in a competition for a sport or activity;
(iv) Accepting a nominal fee or salary for instructing, supervising or officiating in an organized youth sports program, recreation or playground activity;
(v) A school sponsored membership or fee that is paid for the student to participate in a youth serving agency, athletic club, community recreation center, instructional program, camp or similar program if the fee is paid directly to the program or agency;
(vi) Receiving an award, playing equipment, prize of monetary value or other consideration that does not exceed the awards amount authorized by the Wyoming high school activities association;
(vii) Receiving nonmonetary benefits or awards provided to members of an Olympic team or junior national team beyond actual and necessary expenses, including entertainment, equipment, clothing, long distance telephone service, internet access and any other item or service for which it can be demonstrated that the same benefit is available to all members of the nation's Olympic or junior national team or the specific Olympic or junior national team in question;
(viii) Accepting funds that are administered by the United States Olympic committee pursuant to its operation gold program;
(ix) Participating in member school, charitable or educational promotions or fund raising activities that involve the use of athletic ability by student‑athletes to obtain funds from donors, including swim‑a‑thons, lift‑a‑thons, shoot‑a‑thons or other similar events, provided no compensation or prizes are given to the student‑athletes based on their performance. Items that are provided to indicate participation in the activity including shirts, bags or other similar items shall not waive amateur status if the items are offered to every student‑athlete involved;
(x) Accepting scholarship funds, provided the funds are paid directly to a postsecondary institution and the funds are not available until after the student has graduated from high school.
(d) Violation of this section shall result in the student becoming ineligible to participate in the sport or activity concerned.
Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2026.
SEA0025 SF0012 Wyoming national guard reenlistment bonus program.
SEA0026 SF0013 Wyoming national guard member referral-amendments.
HEA0005 HB0112 Riverton state office task force-sunset.
HEA0006 HB0106 Smokebuster module leaders.
HEA0007 HB0032 English proficiency-commercial motor vehicle drivers.
HEA0008 HB0008 Stalking of minors.
HEA0009 HB0026 Vehicle registration fees-tribal governments.
HEA0010 HB0105 K-12 school facilities appropriations-2.
HEA0011 HB0107 Local government distributions.
HEA0012 HB0009 Grooming of children-offenses and amendments.
HEA0013 HB0028 Sexual exploitation of children-amendments.
HEA0014 HB0025 Wyoming's tomorrow scholarship program amendments.
HEA0015 HB0024 Review of charter school applications.
HEA0016 HB0002 Fast Track Permits Act.
HEA0020 HB0087 Omnibus water bill-planning.
SEA0022 SF0027 Leashed dogs for tracking-black bear.
I'd managed to forget that Wyoming legalized tracking dogs for wounded big game animals, which was a good change in the law. I had a dog at one time that would have been great at that, although I've never needed a wounded animal to be tracked.
This amendment added bears to the list of things that can be tracked.
Section 1. W.S. 23‑3‑109(d)(intro) is amended to read:
23‑3‑109. Use of dogs; dogs injuring big or trophy game animals may be killed; citation of owners of dogs harassing game animals; penalties; leashed dogs for tracking.
(d) A person may use one (1) leashed blood‑trailing dog to track a wounded or killed big game animal or black bear within seventy‑two (72) hours of shooting the animal. A person using a dog in this manner:
Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2026.
HEA0017 HB0023 Participation in school activities.
This bill amended a prior variant so that it now allows any student in a school district to participate in school activities whether or not they're attending public schools.
I get it, but frankly I'm not keen on home schooling and I'd have probably have voted no on this.
HEA0018 HB0128 Enhanced oil recovery-severance tax exemption.
HEA0019 HB0075 Virtual currency kiosks.
HEA0021 HB0122 Wyoming rural health transformation program.
HEA0022 HB0003 Wyoming pregnancy centers-autonomy and rights.
HEA0029 HB0126 Human Heartbeat Act
This is an anti abortion amendment, and while I'm opposed to abortion, I'm skeptical that this will survive a legal challenge. I hope it does.
SEA0028 SF0067 Wyoming state guard-amendments.
This bill changed the State Guard provisions so that Wyoming can have one at any time, not just when the National Guard is called up.
State Guards exist only in a few states, although I think every state had one during World War Two. Basically, they're no liable to Federalization. . . probably. They're a pet project for Freedom Caucus types who imagine them being a useful militia that can't be called up in case some weird President decides to wage war on Iran. . . oh, um not that, but if a . . . well anyhow.
Wyoming doesn't have one, and isn't going to. Nobody wants the expense.
SEA0030 SF0041 Portable benefit accounts.
SEA0031 SF0048 Stem Cell Freedom Act.
SEA0032 SF0020 Data privacy-government entities.
SEA0033 SF0010 Contracts for holding and treating mentally ill detainees.
SEA0034 SF0004 Medicaid rate increase-EMS services.
SEA0035 SF0026 Game and fish property tax exemption-amendments.
SEA0036 SF0090 School facilities-use fees.
SEA0037 SF0105 Real estate brokers-duties and disclosure amendments.
SEA0038 SF0044 Gambling amendments.
SEA0039 SF0046 Skill based amusement games-licensed liquor establishments.
SEA0040 SF0014 Literacy position for K-3 reading program.
SEA0041 SF0107 Motor vehicle registration and plate issuance system.
SEA0042 SF0070 Omnibus water bill-construction.
SEA0043 SF0059 K-12 language and literacy program.
SEA0044 SF0056 Kratom product regulation.
SEA0045 SF0021 Wyoming stable token-amendments.
SEA0046 SF0035 School district-cell phone and smart watch policies.
SEA0047 SF0050 State engineer-surface and ground water study.
SEA0048 SF0058 Wyoming Indian Child Welfare Act sunset repeal.
SEA0049 SF0095 Driver's and motor vehicle services-third party providers.
SEA0050 SF0102 Wyoming energy transmission study.
SEA0051 SF0045 Local approval for simulcasting.
SEA0052 SF0088 Sex offenders-residence near child care facilities.
SEJR0002 SJ0006 Shared parenting day.
This bill shows how far to the left even people who think they are in the right, are:
A JOINT RESOLUTION designating April 26 of each year to be shared parenting day in the state of Wyoming.
WHEREAS, children are Wyoming's most important asset; and
WHEREAS, shared parenting is an arrangement under which parents who are separated or divorced are given joint decision-making authority and shared parenting time; and
WHEREAS, research indicates that children benefit greatly if they have a good relationship with both parents who are fit caregivers; and
WHEREAS, shared parenting arrangements offer children the benefit of building a relationship with each parent, provide parents with the opportunity to ensure the healthy mental, physical and emotional development of their children and create venues for parents to engage in positive, collaborative efforts geared toward the well-being of their children; and
WHEREAS, shared parenting arrangements recognize that even though the intimate relationship between the parents has ended, the familial relationships continue and require nurturing and cultivation to support healthy child development.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:
Section 1. To highlight the innumerable benefits of shared parenting, the legislature of the state of Wyoming, designates April 26 of each year to be shared parenting day in Wyoming.
The state doesn't need a day on this. What the state needs to do is to repeal the repeal of the heart balm statutes and wipe out no fault divorce, for starters.
SEJR0004 SJ0009 Keeping public lands protected and decisions local.
This is a huge win we should really be proud of the legislature for.
SEA0053 SF0054 State banks and SPDI conversions.
SEA0053 SF0054 Special purpose depository institutions - amendments
SEA0055 SF0085 RAVEN Act
SEA0057 SF0066 Donated hunting licenses - amendments
SEA0058 SF0057 Transparency in hospital service pricing.
SEA0059 SF0061 Motor vehicle sales to family members - not taxable.
SEA0060 SF0023 Outpatient examination and commitment lengthSEA0061 SF0113 2026 election hand count comparison.
SEA0061 SF0113 2026 election hand count comparison.
This requires a percentage of recounts to be done by hand. This is stupid.
SEA0062 SF0084 Voluntary water conservation program.
SEA0063 SF0099 Prescriptive easements for electricity delivery.
SEA0065 SF0121 Wyoming Pharmacy Act amendments.
SEA0066 SF0028 Elections-voting machine and voting system tests.
SEA0067 SF0069 Waste and storm water infrastructure study.
SEA0068 SF0106 Welfare Fraud Prevention Act Amendments.
SEA0069 SF0123 Wyoming energy dominance fund.
All in all, the results were pretty good. There was only one really stupid bill passed and almost everything that the Freedom Caucus stomped into Cheyenne and declared they were going to do didn't happen. On top of it, they embarrassed themselves and made the Democrats look good by accepting checks form a clueless Confederate on the floor, and then pondered sanctioning the people who caught them.
And now there's a fairly dedicated movement to replace the Confederates in the legislature. People are sick of them. Adding to that, some of them are abandoning their posts in an effort to try to move on to other offices, opening them up. Some have drawn outright challengers, such as Bill Allemand who is being challenged by the sitting Mayor of Bar Nunn. At the same time, at least one, Jeanette Ward, who was booted out last election is seeking to get back in.
