Government & Politics
News

Gordon Signs Bill To Keep NIL Money Out Of Wyoming High School Sports
A Wyoming bill to keep name, image, and likeness payouts out of high school sports is now law after Gov. Mark Gordon signed it Tuesday. Gordon said it's a commonsense measure after what's happened to college sports.
Clair McFarland & David MadisonMarch 04, 2026

Legislators Say No To Letting Districts Use Teacher, Class Money For Other Things
Wyoming legislators denied amendments Tuesday to allow districts to use money for instruction and teacher pay on other things. Some say districts need leeway, others that the rule guards against districts “continually saying, 'Not enough, need more.’"
Clair McFarlandMarch 04, 2026

"Authoritarian" Bill Making Defiance Of Legislative Subpoena A Felony Heads To Gov.
A bill elevating the penalty for dodging a legislative subpoena from a misdemeanor to a felony carrying up to one year in prison passed both chambers this week. It drew sharp criticism from senators who said they handed themselves "authoritarian power"
David MadisonMarch 03, 2026

Meier: Wyoming Needs $6 Billion For Housing And That Doesn't Count Infrastructure
State Treasurer Curt Meier said Wyoming needs $6 billion for housing in the next 15 years and that doesn't count infrastructure. Legislators considered housing legislation this year, but nothing passed. One noteworthy bill died due to "CheckGate."
David MadisonMarch 03, 2026

Wyoming 'Bounty' Bill Inspired By Minnesota Fraud Dies, But Could Return Next Year
A Wyoming legislative committee on Monday voted down a bill that would have promised whistleblowers a cut of penalties against people who cheat the government out of money. “I love the concept of this bill,” one lawmaker said before voting to table it.
Clair McFarlandMarch 03, 2026

Budget Cuts Shut Down 50-Year Sweetwater County Home Respite Care Program
A Sweetwater County home respite care program is closing at the end of March after nearly 50 years. Budget cuts forced the move as the county adjusts for collecting less in property tax and other revenues.
Tracie SullivanMarch 03, 2026

$15 Million For PRCA Move To Cheyenne Survives Budget Votes, Heads To Governor
With $15 million approved in the $9.9 billion biennial budget approved Monday, Cheyenne is closer than ever to landing the PRCA headquarters and museum. Sen. Ogden Driskill said the funding "probably had deeper support statewide than anything I’ve seen."
Renée JeanMarch 03, 2026

Legislation Making Child Stalking And Grooming Felonies Headed To Gov's Desk
Bills making child stalking and grooming standalone felony crimes are headed for the governor's desk. The stalking bill came from a high-profile case where a 41-year-old in Glenrock stalked and harassed a 16-year-old teen for a year and received probation.
Jen KocherMarch 02, 2026

West Virginia's Move To Legalize Machine Guns Could Lead Wyoming To Do The Same
If lawmakers in West Virginia are successful in legalizing fully automatic firearms, Wyoming could follow suit. Law professor and director of UW’s Firearms Research Center said, "I could totally see it catching on here in Wyoming and Montana."
Mark HeinzMarch 02, 2026

Governor, Freedom Caucus Claim Victory As Legislature Passes $9.9 Billion Budget
Despite compromises from all sides, Gov. Gordon, Senate leaders, and House leaders all claimed victory on Monday as the Wyoming Legislature passed a $9.9 billion, two-year budget. “What a win for Wyoming!” the governor said.
Clair McFarlandMarch 02, 2026

Attempt To Resurrect Teton County Housing Bill Linked To CheckGate Fails In Senate
A vocal minority in the Wyoming Senate tried and failed Monday to resurrect a housing bill linked to the "CheckGate" scandal. Senate President Bo Biteman said the bill was "tainted" and should be handled next year.
Clair McFarlandMarch 02, 2026

In Wake Of Weston Election Scandal, Bill Advanced Criminalizing False Election Audits
Wyoming lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that criminalizes filing false election audits, despite such actions already being illegal. “I still think just to make it even clearer — why would we not do this?” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said.
David MadisonMarch 02, 2026

Wyoming Parents Push For Schools To Dump Lifetouch Photos After Alleged Epstein Tie
Some Wyoming parents are calling for schools to dump Lifetouch photos after an investor with its parent company has an alleged link to notorious sex-trafficker Jeffery Epstein. The schools shouldn’t be allowing it," said one Natrona County parent.
Mark HeinzMarch 01, 2026

No CheckGate Reckoning At Wyoming GOP Meeting As Leaders Blast Media, Gordon
There was no dealing with the so-called “CheckGate” controversy at Saturday’s state GOP Central Committee meeting. Instead, party leaders blamed the media for its coverage and redirected attention on Gov. Mark Gordon’s campaign spending.
David MadisonFebruary 28, 2026

Privacy Advocates Trying To Get Flock License Plate Cams In Cheyenne Removed
The license plate of a vehicle involved in a carjacking in Colorado turned up in Cheyenne last weekend. That's because a Flock camera picked up the license plate number. Privacy advocates, however, don't like it and are trying to get them removed.
Kate MeadowsFebruary 28, 2026

Senate Panel Backs Bills Letting 18-Year-Olds Carry Guns On UW Campus
A Wyoming Senate committee forwarded a trio of gun bills Friday, including one that would allow freshmen to carry concealed weapons on campus at the University of Wyoming while upperclassmen would no longer need permits.
Mark HeinzFebruary 27, 2026

University Of Wyoming Budget Spared (For Now), Biz Council Reined In
Wyoming legislative negotiators drafted a budget Friday that could spare the University of Wyoming from a $40 million cut while funding the Wyoming Business Council for one year instead of two.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 27, 2026

Neiman: House Misconduct Complaints Filed, 'Maybe' Against Provenza, Yin
Discussing 'CheckGate' on Friday, House Speaker Chip Neiman said leadership is "looking into" whether Democratic Rep. Karlee Provenza may face consequences after taking the check-passing scandal to the media. He said complaints have been filed.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 27, 2026

"We're Sitting On A Gold Mine": Energy Optimism Overflows At Wyoming Capitol
Lawmakers advanced two bills Friday designed to position Wyoming at the center of America's energy future. Sen. Bo Biteman said the time to act is now as the administration is listening to Wyoming on energy and will get rid of any "issues or bottlenecks."
David MadisonFebruary 27, 2026

CheckGate: Four Members Who Received Checks On House Floor Say It Wasn't Bribery
At the first CheckGate hearing in the Capitol on Thursday, the four members who received checks on the House floor said they never felt it was an act of bribery. Rebecca Bextel, who delivered the checks, said she just “wafted toward the House floor."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 27, 2026

House Panel Advances Major Property Tax Cut For Homeowners
A House committee Thursday advanced a bill that would lower the tax rate on homes people live in and stop collecting school taxes on those properties, with the state picking up the tab instead of local governments. The bill passed 7-2.
David MadisonFebruary 27, 2026

Hunters, Ranchers Say Corner Crossing Bill Isn’t Ready As It Heads To Wyoming Senate
A corner-crossing bill received pushback from both hunters and ranchers Thursday but the committee still forwarded it to the Senate. One hunter said, “let’s just go out and corner-cross,” then write a new bill to address any problems that come up.
Mark HeinzFebruary 27, 2026

Wyoming Senate Committee Doesn’t Want State Collecting Union Dues
Wyoming senators advanced a bill to ban most state entities from collecting union and political group dues, while dropping new reporting rules for those groups. “The intent is to bust unions and bust associations,” alleged a Wyoming Education Association representative.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 26, 2026

Another Election Reform Bill Dies As Lawmaker Rejects National “Populism”
In speaking against an election audit reform bill Thursday, Sen. Tara Nethercott said the state's county clerks don't support the measure and that lawmakers should stop "pandering" to fears manufactured by national rhetoric. The legislation failed 21-9.
David MadisonFebruary 26, 2026
