Cale Case
R · S25
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it removed unnecessary rule-making requirements and adjusted the effective date to July 1, 2025.
Public statementFloor statement at 11:51 Watch the statement
Wyoming2025Enacted
SF0051
Wyoming Telecommunications Act Revisions
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM
In one sentence
This act extends the Wyoming Telecommunications Act's expiration date and makes several changes to how it works, including requirements for companies providing services and limits on local government agreements.
What it does
- Extends the sunset date of the Wyoming Telecommunications Act from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2031.
- Changes definitions related to essential telecommunications services and broadband internet access service.
- Requires companies providing local exchange services to give price schedules to the Public Service Commission.
- Limits local governments' ability to enter exclusive agreements for broadband internet access service provision.
- Updates rules about credit requirements and benchmarks for the Universal Service Fund.
Who it affects
- Telecommunications companies in Wyoming
- Local governments in Wyoming
Limits and unknowns
- The bill does not specify how the changes will be enforced or monitored.
- It is unclear what specific impact these revisions will have on local exchange companies and customers.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Essential Telecommunications Services
- Services that are necessary for basic communication needs, such as phone service.
- Universal Service Fund
- A fund used to support affordable telecommunications services in underserved areas.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Bill Summary - 25LSO-0203 Bill No.: SF0051 Effective: 7/1/2025 LSO No.: 25LSO-0203 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0070 Chapter No.: 135 Prime Sponsor: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee Catch Title: Wyoming telecommunications act revisions. Has Report: No Subject: Wyoming telecommunications act revisions. Summary/Major Elements: The Wyoming telecommunications act was previously scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2025. This bill extends the sunset date of the Wyoming telecommunications act to July 1, 2031 and makes a number of other revisions to the act. The bill specifies that, except as specifically provided otherwise, the Wyoming telecommunications act only applies to services defined as noncompetitive essential telecommunications services. The bill revises the requirements for local exchange companies to provide price schedules to the Public Service Commission. The bill establishes a limitation on local governments entering an exclusive agreement for provision of broadband internet access service. The bill also revises the administration of the Universal Service Fund by specifying that credit is allowed for only one line for each customer or household and by increasing the price benchmark used to calculate local revenues. 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 5, 1:48 AM
Voted Yes
Chris Rothfuss
D · S09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes concurrence because the amendment is substantially outside the scope of the original bill and violates constitutional requirements for language to be consistent with the title.
Public statementFloor statement at 15:48 Watch the statement
Eric Barlow
R · S23
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker resists the amendment because it attempts to carve money out of a grant program that was recently repealed by another bill.
Public statementFloor statement at 18:10 Watch the statement
Bob Ide
R · S29
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes concurrence because the bill provides financial aid to private companies, which he believes is not the proper role of government.
Public statementFloor statement at 19:14 Watch the statement
Larry Hicks
R · S11
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports concurrence by arguing that it is up to each legislator's common sense and determination to decide if an amendment is germane or constitutional.
Public statementFloor statement at 21:57 Watch the statement
Darin Smith
S06
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports concurrence because he believes the amendment falls within the realm of acceptable scope despite being a stretch.
Public statementFloor statement at 22:18 Watch the statement
Mike Yin
D · H16
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because it risks sending an important bill to conference committee, even though the requested data can be obtained without amending the statute.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:02:39 Watch the statement
Cody Wylie
R · H39
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because they do not want to risk delaying or complicating an important bill that has been in progress for two years.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:04:06 Watch the statement
Jeremy Haroldson
R · H04
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes adding the amendment because they want to avoid creating redundancy and risking a conference committee for an important bill while waiting for confirmation on existing data.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:04:30 Watch the statement
JD Williams
R · H02
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because constituents reported difficulty contacting state employees working remotely, and they want accountability and oversight.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:05:30 Watch the statement
Clarence Styvar
R · H12
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because departments can provide the requested information if simply asked, making statutory changes unnecessary.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:05:54 Watch the statement
Scott Heiner
R · H18
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because they want cold, hard facts rather than rumors about state employee telework issues and believe it will not harm the bill's passage.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:07:36 Watch the statement
Bill Landen
R · S27
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports an amendment limiting subsidies to a single line per household. He believes this is necessary because rural customers may have multiple lines, and the current process should be followed through the Public Service Commission.
Public statementFloor statement at 47:15 Watch the statement
Eric Barlow
R · S23
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports dividing an amendment to ensure that the provision limiting subsidies to one household is included in the bill.
Public statementFloor statement at 52:12 Watch the statement
Charles Scott
R · S30
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports adopting a compromise amendment because it accounts for significant inflation and will reduce the cost of the universal service fund.
Public statementFloor statement at 53:10 Watch the statement
Cale Case
R · S25
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it maintains a successful system where regulation is applied lightly, which he believes removes obstacles of distance in telecommunications.
Public statementFloor statement at 54:50 Watch the statement
Jim Anderson
R · S28
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes it extends more federal or state regulation on private services.
Public statementFloor statement at 55:09 Watch the statement
Chris Rothfuss
D · S09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it allows state primacy over federal regulation, which he believes is more effective at representing Wyoming's interests.
Public statementFloor statement at 55:48 Watch the statement
Bo Biteman
R · S21
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes federal regulations are unconstitutional and supporting the act amounts to agreeing with them.
Public statementFloor statement at 57:07 Watch the statement
Dan Laursen
R · S19
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker explains that the bill is necessary because the Act faces sunset next year and required updates based on interim committee work.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:53:06 Watch the statement
Ogden Driskill
R · S01
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it is necessary to address an act that faces sunset next year, based on interim work by a joint committee.
Public statementFloor statement at 1:53:06 Watch the statement
Darin Smith
S06
Why they voted this way
Senator Smith urges support for Committee of the Whole Amendment One because it limits subsidies to one line per location and raises the benchmark price from $30 to $40, which has not been updated in five years.
Public statementFloor statement at 2:17:14 Watch the statement
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
6 roll calls
S Concur:Passed 28-3-0-0-02025-03-03 · Senate28 yes 3 no
- Yes
- 28
- No
- 3
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 28
Barry CragoR · S22Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Chris RothfussD · S09Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan LaursenR · S19Darin SmithS06Ed CooperR · S20Eric BarlowR · S23Evie BrennanR · S31Gary CrumR · S10Jared OlsenR · S08Jim AndersonR · S28John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Laura PearsonR · S14Lynn HutchingsR · S05Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01Stacy JonesR · S13Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Tim SalazarR · S26Wendy SchulerR · S15
H 3rd Reading:Passed 60-0-2-0-02025-03-03 · House60 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 60
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 2
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 60
Abby AngelosR · H03Andrew ByronR · H22Ann LucasR · H43Art WashutR · H36Bill AllemandR · H58Bob DavisR · H47Bob NicholasR · H07Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Cody WylieR · H39Dalton BanksR · H26Daniel SinghR · H61Darin McCannR · H48Elissa CampbellR · H56Gary BrownR · H41Ivan PoseyD · H33J.T. LarsonR · H17JD WilliamsR · H02Jacob WasserburgerR · H11Jayme LienR · H38Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Joe WebbR · H19Joel GuggenmosR · H55John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John WinterR · H28Julie JarvisR · H57Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Ken ChestekD · H13Ken CloustonR · H32Ken PendergraftR · H29Kevin CampbellR · H62Laurie BrattenR · H51Lee FilerR · H44Liz StorerD · H23Lloyd LarsenR · H54Marilyn ConnollyR · H40Marlene BradyR · H60Martha LawleyR · H27McKay EricksonR · H21Mike SchmidR · H20Mike YinD · H16Nina WebberR · H24Ocean AndrewR · H46Pam ThayerR · H15Paul HoeftR · H25Pepper OttmanR · H34Rachel Rodriguez-WilliamsR · H50Reuben TarverR · H52Rob GeringerR · H42Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Scott SmithR · H05Steve HarshmanR · H37Steve JohnsonR · H08Tom KellyR · H30Tomi StrockR · H06Tony LockeR · H35Trey SherwoodD · H14
H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-02025-02-24 · House9 yes 0 no
S 3rd Reading:Passed 22-7-2-0-02025-01-28 · Senate22 yes 7 no
- Yes
- 22
- No
- 7
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 2
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 22
Barry CragoR · S22Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Dan DockstaderR · S16Darin SmithS06Ed CooperR · S20Eric BarlowR · S23Evie BrennanR · S31Gary CrumR · S10Jared OlsenR · S08Jim AndersonR · S28Larry HicksR · S11Ogden DriskillR · S01Stacy JonesR · S13Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Tim SalazarR · S26Wendy SchulerR · S15
No 7
S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02025-01-24 · Senate5 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
S07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-02025-01-20 · Senate4 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 4
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
Official activity
Bill history
- Assigned Chapter Number 135LSO
- Governor Signed SEA No. 0070 Governor
- H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0070House
- S President Signed SEA No. 0070Senate
- Assigned Number SEA No. 0070LSO
- S Concur:Passed 28-3-0-0-0Senate
- S Received for ConcurrenceSenate
- H 3rd Reading:Passed 60-0-2-0-0House
- H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
- H COW:PassedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
- H07 - Corporations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0House
- H Introduced and Referred to H07 - CorporationsHouse
- H Received for IntroductionHouse
- S 3rd Reading:Passed 22-7-2-0-0Senate
- S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
- S COW:PassedSenate
- S Placed on General FileSenate
- S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
- :Rerefer to S02 - AppropriationsSenate
Changes
Amendments
10 stored
The amendment adds a requirement for the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information to report on telework policies by February 1, 2026.
The amendment changes the effective date of the bill to July 1, 2025.
The amendment removes certain sections and references from the bill text related to telecommunications regulations in Wyoming.
The amendment removes an earlier proposed change to the Wyoming telecommunications act.
The amendment changes the credit requirements for the universal service fund, limits the number of credits a customer can receive, and increases the price benchmark.
The amendment changes the credit requirements for the universal service fund, limits the number of credits a customer can receive, and increases the price benchmark.
The amendment removes certain sections and lines from the bill, including parts related to payment provisions, subsection (j) creation, and entire pages of text.
The amendment adds a new section to the bill that appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for automating payment of universal service fund charges.
The amendment changes the wording in a section of the bill to require certain actions instead of allowing optional ones.
The amendment adds a new section to the bill that appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for automating payment of universal service fund charges for prepaid wireless services.