Senate Floor Session-Day 13, February 24, 2026-PM [Source] Translate

The Senate meeting began with messages from the House regarding several bills that passed third reading, including House Bill 103 (Wyoming First Amendment Protection Act), House Bill 126 (Human Heartbeat Act), and House Bill 159 (safeguarding personal expression at K-12 schools). Senator Cooper introduced guests from Tinslip High School, and Senator Boehner welcomed constituents from Glen Rock. Senator Rothfuss introduced his family members who were visiting. The Senate then conducted first readings of several House Bills, including House Bill 95 (Concealed Carry on College Campuses), House Bill 96 (Caring of Concealed Weapons, Age Requirement), and House Bill 70 (Wyoming Granite Act), assigning various bills to different committees. Reports from standing committees recommended several House Bills for passage, including House Bill 111 (state-funded capital construction) and House Bill 106 (Smokebuster Module Leaders). Senator Pappas moved for the immediate reconsideration of Senate File 116, which failed with 12 votes in favor and 19 against. The Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole to discuss House Joint Resolution 2, requesting Congress to increase Wyoming's share of federal mineral royalties from 50% to 87.5%. Amendments were discussed and adopted, with senators expressing differing opinions on the resolution's effectiveness. The Committee of the Whole then discussed House Bill 34 (Firefighters Retirement Plans), which was recommended for passage. Senator Salazar moved that the Committee report favorably on the bill, which aims to help recruit and retain wildland firefighters by amending retirement statutes. The bill has an appropriation of $411,000. Questions arose regarding retirement benefits, and Senator Grew acknowledged the need for further information before the second reading. The motion to report favorably on House Bill 34 passed. The next bill discussed was House Bill 35, concerning firefighters' paid leave and hazard pay, which also passed with an appropriation of $422,500 from general funds. House Bill 85, related to post-election audit procedures, was introduced. Senator Case moved for its favorable consideration, emphasizing the need for transparency during audits. Concerns were raised about the definition of political affiliation and public participation in audits. An amendment to clarify public participation passed, and further discussion continued, with senators expressing varying levels of support and concern regarding the bill's necessity and impact on election security. The meeting then shifted to House Bill 105, which pertains to K-12 school facilities appropriations. An amendment was proposed to adjust the safety allotment for schools from $5 million back to $10 million. Senators discussed the implications of the amendment and the need for flexibility in funding allocations. The meeting concluded with a vote on House Bill 85, which passed with 15 in favor and 13 opposed, followed by the introduction of House Bill 105 for further consideration. Discussions on funding for school safety and maintenance continued, with senators expressing concerns about future tax implications and the prioritization of projects. The committee then moved on to House Bill 107, which relates to local government funding. An amendment was proposed to increase the percentage of sales tax distributed to local governments from 5.6% to 8%. Concerns were raised about the new funding model and its implications during economic downturns. The Committee of the Whole voted in favor of House Bill 107, which passed. The meeting concluded with various committee announcements and a motion to adjourn until the following day.