Government & Politics
News
Wyoming Lawmakers Move To Bypass FDA On Stem Cell Treatments
Wyoming lawmakers advanced the Stem Cell Freedom Act on Friday, which would let doctors offer certain stem cell treatments without FDA approval. Bill sponsor Sen. Eric Barlow said, “We’ve got to press on the federal government because they’re not approving things fast enough."
Zakary SonntagFebruary 14, 2026
Chief Says Cop Killer’s Mom Would Have Escaped Justice Under Gun Rights Bill
Wyoming law officers say a gun rights bill headed for the House floor could let offenders slip through the cracks, including a cop killer's mom who would've escaped justice under the bill. Supporters say it will protect gun owners from federal overreach.
Mark HeinzFebruary 14, 2026
Wyoming Lawmakers Shoot Down Bill To Create Nation's First Hydrogen Tax
The House Minerals Committee shot down a bid Friday for Wyoming to become the first state in the nation with a hydrogen severance tax. Industry officials testified a tax would discourage investment in Cowboy State hydrogen projects.
David MadisonFebruary 13, 2026
Bill To Purge Sexually-Explicit Library Books From Children's Section Heads To House
A bill seeking to remove sexually-explicit materials from children’s sections of public and school libraries is headed to the Wyoming House of Representatives, after the House Judiciary Committee advanced it Friday on a 6-1 approval vote.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2026
Wyoming Senate Formally Condemns GOP Activist For Passing Out Checks On House Floor
All 31 Wyoming senators Friday condemned a GOP activist for handing out campaign checks on the floor of the House. “The appearance of vote-buying on the House floor or the Senate floor is absolutely unconscionable," Sen. President Bo Biteman said.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2026
Senate Rescues Wyoming's Attempt To Rework Public School Funding
Under pressure to pay the schools in a way that satisfies Wyoming's courts, the state Senate on Friday rescued a bill attempting to do just that - moments after the House rejected its own school funding bill a second time.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2026
In Full Debate On University of Wyoming Budget Cuts, Lawmakers Ask If It's Retaliation
The Wyoming House and Senate debated a $40 million cut to the University of Wyoming on Thursday, with the budget committee co-chair John Bear confirming the number was meant to "get their attention." He said legislative directives on DEI were ignored.
Clair McFarland & David MadisonFebruary 13, 2026
Wyoming Anti-Abortion Amendment Dies In Senate By One Vote
The Wyoming Senate on Thursday killed a proposed constitutional amendment that would have let the legislature restrict abortion - by redefining health care. Voting against it, Sen. Cale Case said, “It’s crazy to give us that much power.”
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2026
Parent Angered After Nonbinary Book Read To Kindergartners In Sweetwater County
A parent of a kindergartner is angry after a teacher at Sage Elementary School in Rock Springs read a book about non-binary gender ideology to her son’s class. The principal said the teacher stopped reading the book when she realized what it was about.
Kate MeadowsFebruary 12, 2026
House Forms Investigative Committee To See If Checks Passed Were Bribes, Misconduct
All 59 Wyoming representatives who were on the House floor Thursday afternoon voted to convene a special committee to investigate the checks given to lawmakers on the House floor Monday - and if it was an act of bribery or legislative misconduct.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2026
Wyoming House Will Hear Bill To Investigate How Data Centers Impact Water Supply
A Wyoming House committee advanced a bill Thursday that would provide funding for a study on how data centers, carbon capture, or other large-scale industrial projects might sap or impact the state's water supply.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2026
Wyoming Projected To Lose 335 Physicians By 2030, Lawmakers Look To Foreign Docs
In an effort to fix Wyoming's physician shortage, a bill to create a new pathway for foreign-trained doctors has advanced in the House. Rep. Jacob Wasserburger said Wyoming is projected to lose 335 physicians by 2030 and 18 of 23 counties currently have a health professional shortage.
David MadisonFebruary 12, 2026
Teton County GOP Leader Handed Out Checks To Lawmakers On House Floor
Teton County Republican Party leader Rebecca Bextel handed out checks to lawmakers on the Wyoming House floor Monday, according to interviews, a photograph and her own later statement. She said there was "nothing wrong" with the maneuver.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 12, 2026
Wyoming Lawmakers Advance Hand-Count Recount Bill Despite County Clerks’ Objections
Wyoming lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday to allow hand-counted recounts despite county clerks warning it wouldn’t work under tight deadlines. Sec. of State Chuck Gray testified in favor calling it "one of the most vetted election bills in this session."
David MadisonFebruary 12, 2026
Wyoming Senate Kills Bill To Revamp Courts - Three More Still Alive
One piece of Wyoming legislation aimed at changing the way Wyoming chooses judges and structures courts failed its introductory vote Wednesday in the state Senate — but at least three more reform bills remained viable.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 11, 2026
Cheyenne’s New Administrative Warrants: What Exactly Did The City Council Pass?
Although it was quite controversial, the Cheyenne City Council eventually did pass a new ordinance expanding administrative warrants pertaining to who can enter certain properties. This is what the new ordinance allows.
Kate MeadowsFebruary 11, 2026
Wyoming Lawmakers Look To Fix Grooming Bill, Which Had Worse Penalties Than Murder
What Elon Musk may not have known when he shared a post calling out Wyoming lawmakers who voted against an anti-child-grooming bill is that the initial version had harsher penalties for grooming than those Wyoming imposes for some murder cases.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 11, 2026
Rep. Mike Yin Claims Jackson GOP Leader 'Handed Out' Checks On Floor Of Legislature
Rep. Mike Yin claimed Wednesday that Teton County GOP leader Rebecca Bextel "handed out" checks on the floor of the state legislature. The accusation prompted outrage and a formal protest. Bextel countered, "I have not written any campaign checks this year so far."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 11, 2026
Wyoming Bill Advances That Would Allow Voters To Recall Local Officials
Wyoming lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill to let voters recall mayors and other local officials as there is no mechanism in place now. Supporters cite accountability, while critics worry about and politicized recalls.
David MadisonFebruary 11, 2026
Wyoming House Kills Bill To Make Counties Pay Costs For Self-Defense Acquittals
The Wyoming House killed a bill Tuesday that would have made counties reimburse “all reasonable costs” for people found not guilty for using force in self-defense.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 11, 2026
Elon Musk Shares Post Calling Out Democrats For All Voting Against Wyoming Grooming Bill
A vote on a bill aimed at establishing criminal penalties in Wyoming for the grooming of minors caught the eye of Elon Musk. He shared a post calling out Democrats for voting against the bill. However, 13 Republicans also voted against it.
Jen KocherFebruary 11, 2026
House Advances Bill Requiring Informed Consent, Civil Liability For Abortions
Barely a month after the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down the state's abortion bans, legislators fired back Tuesday with a bill that takes a different angle. House Bill 117 requires informed consent for abortions and will allow people to sue over them.
David MadisonFebruary 11, 2026
Gordon: It's Refreshing To See So Many Bills Die Because It's A Budget Session, After All
At a press conference Tuesday, Gov. Mark Gordon said it was refreshing to see so many bills die. He said he sees that as a sign that lawmakers are respecting their higher priority of passing a two-year state budget - and doing so within about 20 days.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 11, 2026
‘Now I See What The Big Deal Is’: Lummis Gets A Look At Unredacted Epstein Files
Wyoming Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis was one of the members of Congress who got a look at the unredacted Epstein files on Monday. “Now I see what the big deal is,” she said, adding that “it was worth investigating.”
Greg JohnsonFebruary 11, 2026