Government & Politics
News

Legislature Overrides 4 Of Gordon's 25 Line-Item Vetoes; Biz Council Program Survives
The Wyoming Legislature overrode four of Gov. Mark Gordon's 25 line-item vetoes to the budget Friday. The House failed by one vote to win an override that would have defunded the Business Ready Communities program.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2026

Gordon Says Second Amendment Protection Act Is Fundraising Disguised As Legislation
Gov. Gordon didn’t mince words when discussing the Second Amendment Protection Act. He called it an “embarrassment,” noting all 23 sheriffs in Wyoming oppose it. The bill currently sits on the governor’s desk. He vetoed a similar bill last year.
Clair McFarlandMarch 07, 2026

Wyoming Lawmakers Hope $3.9 Billion School Spending Package Good Enough For Courts
Wyoming lawmakers have sent a roughly $3.9 billion school spending package to the governor's desk hoping it will survive the latest round of court scrutiny. "I’m confident the court will look very favorably on (these efforts)," Sen. Chris Rothfuss said Friday.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

Bill Blocking State Agencies From Collecting Union Dues Heads To Gov's Desk
A bill banning Wyoming public agencies and schools from collecting union and political advocacy group dues is headed to the governor. Rep JD Williams says workers keep their right to pay dues and engage in union activities but the state won't be involved.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

Gordon Uses Line-Item Veto To Help Biz Council, Rescue State Jet, NIL, UW Funding
Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday used his line-item veto authority to rescue the Wyoming Business Council’s Business-Ready Communities program, the state colleges’ flexibility to use state money on NIL, and one of the executive branch’s two jet airplanes.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

Gordon Signs Bill Letting All Wyoming Cops Pull Non-English Speaking Truckers From Roads
By the stroke of Gov. Mark Gordon's pen Thursday, now all Wyoming police officers and deputies, not just federally-certified state troopers, can pull non-English-proficient commercial truck drivers from the roads.
Clair McFarlandMarch 06, 2026

To Become A Judge, Clark Stith Leaves Behind Two High-Profile Political Lawsuits
By accepting a judgeship in Sweetwater County, former Rep. Clark Stith is leaving behind arguably the two most high-profile political lawsuits in Wyoming and is "shopping around" for a lawyer to take them over.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2026

Gun Rights Bills Widely Opposed By Wyoming Cops, Sheriffs Clears Legislature
Though widely opposed by Wyoming law enforcement, the Second Amendment Protection Act cleared both chambers of the Legislature. “If an order is ever given federally to come seize firearms... our law enforcement can’t help them,” Rep. Bob Wharff said.
Mark HeinzMarch 05, 2026

"Hands On Everything": Clerk Warns Of Tampering Risk As Voting Machine Bill Passes
Fremont County Clerk Julie Freese warned lawmakers of tampering risks after observers mishandled records during a past voting machine test. The bill, clarifying public access to election equipment checks, was subsequently advanced.
David MadisonMarch 05, 2026

WYDOT Auditing Wyoming Highway Patrol After Overtime Spending Surges 226%
The Wyoming Highway Patrol is being audited after the agency blew past its annual overtime budget by more than $2.4 million last year. "We used more than 50,000 hours of overtime, which was a cost of over $4 million," patrol chief Col. Tim Cameron said.
David MadisonMarch 05, 2026

CheckGate Investigation: House Committee Rules No Bribery Or Misconduct
A committee charged with investigating the so-called CheckGate controversy over handing out checks on the Wyoming House floor said Wednesday it found no bribery or misconduct. However, it also determined it was bad conduct that “must never occur again."
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2026

Cheyenne Farm Owner Fears Jail As Forced Annexation Threatens Livelihood
Wy fresh farm owner Tommie Kniseley fears she could face criminal charges, fines and even jail if the Cheyenne City Council annexes her farm business. She and her family say the rushed annexation plan leaves their homestead and livelihood vulnerable.
Kate MeadowsMarch 05, 2026

Wyoming Senate Refuses To Rescue Bill Purging Sex Books From Children's Library
Sen. Troy McKeown tried and failed Wednesday to resurrect a bill that sought to pull sexually-explicit books from children’s sections in libraries, after the Senate let it die. His effort failed 13-18.
Clair McFarlandMarch 05, 2026

Converse County Commissioner Announces Run For Secretary Of State
Robert Short, a three-term county commissioner in Converse County, announced Wednesday he will run for Secretary of State. He said if elected, he wouldn't push as much for law changes. “The Secretary of State’s job is to enforce law, not make it," he said.
Clair McFarlandMarch 04, 2026

Education Department Completes Special Monitoring Of Rock Springs School District
The Wyoming Department of Education has completed a weeklong review of a Rock Springs special education program. This comes after complaints of staffing and supervision of special education children as well as responsiveness and transparency concerns.
Kate MeadowsMarch 04, 2026

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
