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Wyoming2025Did Not Pass

SF0085

Constitutional Enforcement for Localities

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM

In one sentence

This act requires the attorney general to investigate and take action against counties, cities, and towns that violate state law or the Wyoming constitution by withholding funds from them.

What it does

  • Requires the attorney general to investigate any ordinance, regulation, order, or other official action by local governments if a legislator requests it.
  • The attorney general must report findings within thirty days of receiving a request and notify the governor, senate president, house speaker, and secretary of state about violations.
  • If a violation is found, the attorney general will notify the local government to resolve the issue within thirty days or face withholding of funds by the state treasurer.
  • Funds withheld are held in the general fund until the violation is resolved.
  • Local governments can certify necessary payments for debt service on bonds or other long-term obligations even if funds are being withheld.

Who it affects

  • Counties, cities, and towns that violate state law or the Wyoming constitution
  • The attorney general who investigates violations
  • Legislators who request investigations

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not enacted into law.
  • It only applies to violations of state law or the Wyoming constitution after notification by legislators.
  • Local governments can still face other legal actions for violations even if this act does not apply.

Plain language

Terms to know

Attorney General
A government official responsible for enforcing laws and representing the state in legal matters.
Constitutional Violation
An action or decision that goes against the rules set out in a constitution, which is the highest law of a country or state.

Official record

Sources

Validated

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 5, 3:31 AM

Jared Olsen

R · S08

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because displaying party affiliation helps voters identify candidates whose values align with their own, increases voter engagement and turnout, and provides policy clarity by revealing a candidate's platform.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:37:56 Watch the statement

Gary Crum

R · S10

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill due to concerns about unintended consequences, specifically fearing that requiring party affiliation could cause good school board members who are well-known in their community to lose elections because of local partisan registration imbalances.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:42:30 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill as a necessary step because declining local media has left voters without meaningful information about candidates, and party affiliation helps fill that void.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:47:08 Watch the statement

Brian Boner

R · S02

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because recent lawsuits filed by school boards against the state over funding demonstrate that these positions are already overtly political and partisan.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:48:46 Watch the statement

Dan Laursen

R · S19

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because voters want to know which party platform a candidate leans toward, and media often fails to ask the necessary questions.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:49:24 Watch the statement

Cale Case

R · S25

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because education should rise above politics, and adding party labels encourages tribalism rather than evaluating candidates on their individual merits.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:50:04 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because it promotes divisiveness and tribalism, encouraging voters to choose candidates based on a party label rather than analyzing their individual ideas or qualifications.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:53:20 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because school boards are already engaging in political indoctrination, and voters need to know candidates' positions to fight against it.

Public statementFloor statement at 2:58:49 Watch the statement

John Kolb

R · S12

Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because voters deserve information about candidates, especially since local newspapers no longer provide stories that discuss candidate qualifications.

Public statementFloor statement at 3:00:07 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

2 roll calls

Official activity

Bill history

  1. S COW:Failed 6-23-2-0-0Senate
  2. S Placed on General FileSenate
  3. S03 - Revenue:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 3-2-0-0-0Senate
  4. S Introduced and Referred to S03 - RevenueSenate
  5. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  6. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

SF0085SW001

The amendment changes the word 'working' to 'business' in certain parts of the bill text.

SF0085SS001

The amendment adds the word 'working' after the number thirty (30) in the bill text.