Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because he is concerned the bill does not adequately address equitable and adequate education for K-12 students.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:12:35 Watch the statement
Wyoming2021Enacted
SF0130
Charter Schools Act
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM
In one sentence
This act changes how charter schools are approved and run in Wyoming by allowing the State Loan and Investment Board to authorize them, setting rules for their operations, funding, and limiting the number of new state-authorized schools until further action.
What it does
- Changes who can approve charter schools: now both local school districts and the State Loan and Investment Board can do so.
- Sets specific requirements that must be included in a charter contract between a charter school and its authorizer.
- Specifies how funding is determined for charter schools authorized by the State Loan and Investment Board.
- Limits the number of new charter schools that the State Loan and Investment Board can approve to three until the Legislature decides otherwise.
- Requires a study on charter schools during the 2021 interim period.
Who it affects
- Charter school applicants
- Local school districts
- The State Loan and Investment Board
Limits and unknowns
- The bill limits the number of new state-authorized charter schools to three until further action by the Legislature.
- It does not specify how many existing charter schools are currently operating in Wyoming.
- The effectiveness of these changes on improving education outcomes is unknown.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Authorizer
- A local school district board or the State Loan and Investment Board that can approve charter schools.
- Charter contract
- The agreement between a charter school and its authorizer outlining terms of operation.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Bill Summary - 21LSO-0408 Bill No.: SF0130 Effective: Multiple Dates LSO No.: 21LSO-0408 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0074 Chapter No.: 169 Prime Sponsor: Driskill Catch Title: Charter schools. Subject: Charter schools. Summary/Major Elements: This bill revises the overall process for the approval and renewal of charter schools. The bill provides that, in addition to a local school district board, the State Loan and Investment Board can authorize charter schools. The bill makes revisions to the operations of charter schools including specifying the terms that must be included in a charter contract. The bill specifies how funding is determined for charter schools that are authorized by the State Loan and Investment Board. The bill limits the number of charter schools that can be approved by the State Loan and Investment Board to three until the Legislature takes further action. The bill requires the Joint Education Interim Committee to study charter schools during the 2021 interim. Comments: Requires a report from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Joint Education Interim Committee. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.
Public statements
Why lawmakers voted
Last checked Aug 6, 11:14 PM
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because he believes deleting the bill prevents opening the door for more charter schools in Wyoming.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:13:19 Watch the statement
Lloyd Larsen
R · H54
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because, while he likes the concept of charter schools for specific needs, concerns about teacher requirements and physical assets have not been fully resolved.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:14:21 Watch the statement
Jared Olsen
R · H11
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because he believes school choice issues require moving forward with legislation rather than stopping for a study, as adjustments can be made later.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:16:49 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because she believes parents have long asked for educational options, and the bill focuses on children while the amendment does not.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:17:33 Watch the statement
Ocean Andrew
R · H46
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because he believes a study has already been built into the bill's effective date, so voting against it allows charter schools to proceed.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:18:31 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because he believes more school choice and learning opportunities for students are beneficial.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:18:53 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because he believes charter school statutes had long-standing problems that need to be fixed urgently.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:19:13 Watch the statement
John Bear
R · H31
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because he believes charter schools provide necessary school choice for low-income families and minorities who cannot afford other educational options.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:26:57 Watch the statement
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because studying the bill allows for a robust discussion on bringing in more charter schools without drastically changing current successful business practices.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:28:06 Watch the statement
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
7 roll calls
H Adopted SF0130JC001: 37-17-6-0-02021-04-07 · House37 yes 17 no
- Yes
- 37
- No
- 17
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 6
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 37
Art WashutR · H36Barry CragoR · H40Bill FortnerH52Charles J GrayH57Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Cyrus WesternH51Dan LaursenR · H25Donald E Burkhart JrH15Eric BarlowR · H03Evan J SimpsonH21Hans HuntH02Jared OlsenR · H11Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Jerry D PaxtonH47John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John WinterR · H28Joseph E MacGuireH35Kevin O'HearnH59Landon BrownR · H09Lloyd LarsenR · H54MARTINEZMark H BakerH60Ocean AndrewR · H46Patrick SweeneyH58Robert A ClausenH06Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Shelly DuncanH05Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Timothy P HallinanH32William D HendersonH41
No 17
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08CLIFFORDCatherine R ConnollyH13Chad BanksH17Dan ZwonitzerH43Ember OakleyH55James A RoscoeH22Jamie L FlitnerH26Jerry A ObermuellerH56Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Mark S KinnerH29Mike YinD · H16Steve HarshmanR · H37Thomas J WaltersH38Trey SherwoodD · H14
S Adopted SF0130JC001: 27-3-0-0-02021-04-07 · Senate27 yes 3 no
- Yes
- 27
- No
- 3
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 27
Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Charles ScottR · S30Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan FurphyS10David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Ed CooperR · S20Fred A BaldwinS14Jeff WasserburgerS23Jim AndersonR · S28John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24
S Concur:Failed 0-29-1-0-02021-04-02 · Senate0 yes 29 no
- Yes
- 0
- No
- 29
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
No 29
Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Chris RothfussD · S09Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan FurphyS10David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Ed CooperR · S20Fred A BaldwinS14Jeff WasserburgerS23Jim AndersonR · S28John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24Wendy SchulerR · S15
Excused 1
H 3rd Reading:Passed 44-12-4-0-02021-04-02 · House44 yes 12 no
- Yes
- 44
- No
- 12
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 4
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 44
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Barry CragoR · H40Bill FortnerH52Charles J GrayH57Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Cyrus WesternH51Dan LaursenR · H25Dan ZwonitzerH43Danny EyreH19Donald E Burkhart JrH15Ember OakleyH55Eric BarlowR · H03Evan J SimpsonH21Hans HuntH02JD WilliamsR · H02Jared OlsenR · H11Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John WinterR · H28Joseph E MacGuireH35Kevin O'HearnH59Landon BrownR · H09Lloyd LarsenR · H54MARTINEZMark H BakerH60Mark S KinnerH29Marshall BurtH39Michael D GreearH27Ocean AndrewR · H46Patrick SweeneyH58Pepper OttmanR · H34Robert A ClausenH06Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Shelly DuncanH05Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Timothy P HallinanH32William D HendersonH41
No 12
H04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-4-0-0-02021-03-30 · House5 yes 4 no
S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-4-0-0-02021-03-10 · Senate26 yes 4 no
- Yes
- 26
- No
- 4
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 26
Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Charles ScottR · S30Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan FurphyS10David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Ed CooperR · S20Fred A BaldwinS14Jim AndersonR · S28John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24
S04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 4-1-0-0-02021-03-05 · Senate4 yes 1 no
- Yes
- 4
- No
- 1
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Official activity
Bill history
- Assigned Chapter Number 169LSO
- Became Law without Signature
- H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0074House
- S President Signed SEA No. 0074Senate
- Assigned Number SEA No. 0074LSO
- H Appointed JCC01 MembersHouse
- S Appointed JCC01 MembersSenate
- S Concur:Failed 0-29-1-0-0Senate
- S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
- H 3rd Reading:Passed 44-12-4-0-0House
- H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
- H COW:PassedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
- H04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-4-0-0-0House
- H Introduced and Referred to H04 - EducationHouse
- H Received for IntroductionHouse
- S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-4-0-0-0Senate
- S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
- S 2nd Reading:Laid BackSenate
- S COW:PassedSenate
Changes
Amendments
9 stored
The amendment adds a provision to provide funding and an appropriation for elections related to charter schools.
The amendment modifies the funding requirements for full-time virtual charter schools, changing percentages of funding allocation and adding new provisions.
The amendment changes the original bill about charter schools to focus on requiring a study of charter schools and removing most of the previous content.
The amendment changes the reference to a specific section of law and adds new language about charter schools being public, nonsectarian, and not charging tuition.
The amendment changes how charter schools are authorized, requiring approval by a superintendent after an election instead of the loan and investment board.
The amendment changes the legal reference and adds new requirements for charter schools, specifying that they must operate as public, nonsectarian, nonreligious institutions within a school district without charging tuition.
The amendment adds a new requirement that applications for charter schools submitted to the State Loan and Investment Board must be reviewed by the Department of Education for compliance with accreditation requirements before any decision is made.
The amendment changes the term 'enrolled tribal members' to 'a student who is a member or eligible for membership in an Indian tribe'.
The amendment modifies several sections of the bill regarding charter schools by making specific changes to language and adding new provisions for limiting the number of non-district authorized charter schools and requiring a study on their impacts.