This bill amends the governance structure of the University of Wyoming's Board of Trustees by increasing the total number of trustees from twelve to nineteen. The new composition will include fourteen voting trustees—seven appointed by the governor and seven elected by the public—as well as five ex officio, nonvoting trustees. The bill specifies the election requirements for the newly elected trustees, including that at least one voting trustee must be appointed and one elected from each designated appointment district. Additionally, it establishes the terms for both appointed and elected trustees, with the initial elected trustees serving staggered terms of two and four years, while future terms will be standardized at four years for elected trustees and six years for appointed trustees.

The bill also includes various conforming amendments to the election code, ensuring that the elections for the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees align with existing election laws. It repeals duplicative provisions and clarifies the process for filling vacancies among elected trustees. The terms of the current appointed trustees will expire following the 2026 general election, after which the new structure will take effect. The bill is set to become effective immediately upon completion of the necessary legislative processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-17-202, 21-17-207