Wyoming2026Did Not Pass

SF0104

Higher Education Research Funding Act

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM

In one sentence

This act provides funding for research projects at the University of Wyoming and sets conditions for how these funds can be used.

What it does

Creates a new account called the 'University Faculty Research Project Account' to hold investment earnings from funds in the account, which will remain available for distribution as specified by this section.
Allocates $50 million from the general fund to this research project account and specifies that these funds cannot be used for other purposes or revert unless spent by June 30, 2028.
Requires matching nonstate funds at a rate of one dollar for each dollar of state funding for most projects, except for graduate student stipends which do not require matching funds.
Establishes rules for profit distribution and ownership rights from research conducted with these funds, favoring the researcher over the university.
Requires the University to report annually on funded research projects and graduate student stipends.

Who it affects

The University of Wyoming
Graduate students at the University of Wyoming

Limits and unknowns

The bill did not pass and was ultimately voted down.
Details on how the funds will be distributed are outlined but specific projects or beneficiaries are not named.
It is unclear if the university will receive additional funding beyond the initial $50 million allocation.

Plain language

Terms to know

Matching funds: Money provided by non-state sources to match state funding for research projects.

Official record

Sources

Validated

Official bill page Introduced text Official digest Current bill text Stored full record

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 5, 1:05 AM

Ocean Andrew

R · H46

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it increases incentives for researchers to stay at the university by allowing them to keep a larger share of profits and ownership from their ideas. The speaker also notes that additional stipends will help attract top research talent.

Public statementFloor statement at 4:54:04 Watch the statement

Charles Scott

R · S30

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill to address a long-term problem of declining federal research funding by authorizing a state matching system for private funds, adjusting invention revenue percentages between professors and universities, and providing special funding for graduate assistants.

Public statementFloor statement at 50:10 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 COW:Failed 25-30-7-0-02026-03-03 · House25 yes 30 no

Yes: 25
No: 30
Absent: 0
Excused: 7
Conflict: 0

Excused 7

Andrew ByronR · H22 Clarence StyvarR · H12 Cody WylieR · H39 J.T. LarsonR · H17 Kevin CampbellR · H62 Landon BrownR · H09 Tom KellyR · H30

H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 4-3-0-0-02026-03-03 · House4 yes 3 no

Yes: 4
No: 3
Absent: 0
Excused: 0
Conflict: 0

Yes 4

Abby AngelosR · H03 Bill AllemandR · H58 Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04 Trey SherwoodD · H14

No 3

John BearR · H31 Ken PendergraftR · H29 Scott SmithR · H05

H04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-0-1-0-02026-03-02 · House8 yes 0 no

Yes: 8
No: 0
Absent: 0
Excused: 1
Conflict: 0

Yes 8

Daniel SinghR · H61 JD WilliamsR · H02 Joel GuggenmosR · H55 Laurie BrattenR · H51 Martha LawleyR · H27 McKay EricksonR · H21 Ocean AndrewR · H46 Tomi StrockR · H06

Excused 1

Tom KellyR · H30

S 3rd Reading:Passed 24-7-0-0-02026-02-24 · Senate24 yes 7 no

Yes: 24
No: 7
Absent: 0
Excused: 0
Conflict: 0

Recalled from Committee Pursuant to Senate Rule 5-5: 29-2-0-0-02026-02-19 · Senate29 yes 2 no

Yes: 29
No: 2
Absent: 0
Excused: 0
Conflict: 0

S06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02026-02-17 · Senate5 yes 0 no

Yes: 5
No: 0
Absent: 0
Excused: 0
Conflict: 0

Yes 5

Bill LandenR · S27 Brian BonerR · S02 Larry HicksR · S11 Stacy JonesR · S13 Wendy SchulerR · S15

S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education 23-8-0-0-02026-02-12 · Senate23 yes 8 no

Yes: 23
No: 8
Absent: 0
Excused: 0
Conflict: 0

Official activity

Bill history

2026-03-03H COW:Failed 25-30-7-0-0House
2026-03-03H Placed on General FileHouse
2026-03-03H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 4-3-0-0-0House
2026-03-02H04 - Education:Rerefer to H02 - AppropriationsHouse
2026-03-02H04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0House
2026-02-25H Introduced and Referred to H04 - EducationHouse
2026-02-25H Received for IntroductionHouse
2026-02-24S 3rd Reading:Passed 24-7-0-0-0Senate
2026-02-23S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
2026-02-20S COW:PassedSenate
2026-02-19Recalled from Committee Pursuant to Senate Rule 5-5: 29-2-0-0-0Senate
2026-02-17:Rerefer to S02 - AppropriationsSenate
2026-02-17S06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
2026-02-16:Refer to S06 - TravelSenate
2026-02-12S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education 23-8-0-0-0Senate
2026-02-11S Received for IntroductionSenate
2026-02-10Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

3 stored

SF0104HS001

Adopted Standing Committee by House Education Committee

SF0104S2001

Adopted 2nd reading by Senator Scott

SF0104S2002