SF0002 • 2024

Legislative budget.

AN ACT relating to appropriations for the legislature; providing appropriations for the operation of the legislative branch of state government; and providing for effective dates.

Budget Energy Labor Technology

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Mgt Council
Last action: 2024-03-08
Official status: enrolled
Effective date: 7/1/2024

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and official text do not provide details about the Management Council's authority to move funds between different parts of the budget as needed, nor does it specify extra money for unexpected expenses or special meetings.

Legislative Budget Act

This act provides funding for the operations of Wyoming's legislative branch, including salaries and expenses for legislators and staff.

What This Bill Does

Provides money to pay for the work of the legislature from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026.
Includes funds for salaries, travel costs, technology projects, and training for new legislators.

Who It Names or Affects

Legislators and staff working in Wyoming's state government.

Terms To Know

Management Council: A group that manages the budget and operations of the legislative branch.

Limits and Unknowns

Some parts of the bill were vetoed by the Governor, such as funding for certain meetings and task forces.
The full impact of the budget changes may not be clear until it is fully implemented in July 2024.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0002H3001

3rd reading • Representative Crago

Corrected, Failed

Plain English: This amendment changes funding amounts for certain legislative operations, limits meeting days for interim committees, and removes a previous committee's amendment.

Changes the appropriation amount from $2,537,876 to $2,212,926 in one section of the bill.
Reduces another funding allocation from $1,238,390 to $802,890.
Limits each interim committee to only three meeting days per year, except for the joint appropriations committee.

The amendment removes a previous committee's amendment but does not specify what that removed amendment was or its content.

SF0002HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Heiner

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment removes the phrase ', including internationally,' from a specific line in the bill.

Removes the phrase ', including internationally,' from page 8, line 22 of the bill.

This amendment does not provide context about what was being referred to with 'internationally' and its removal may affect interpretation without further details.

SF0002HW002

Committee of the Whole • Representative Zwonitzer, Dn

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds funding for two task forces by inserting new sections into the bill.

Adds $55,000 from the general fund to support the Regulatory Reduction Task Force members' salaries, mileage, and per diem.
Adds $55,000 from the general fund to support the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force members' salaries, mileage, and per diem.

The amendment text does not specify how the task forces will operate or what their specific duties are.
It is unclear if there were existing sections numbered as Section 14 and 15 in the original bill that this amendment might be replacing or modifying.

SF0002HS001

Standing Committee • House Appropriations Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes a section from the bill and renumbers another section accordingly.

Removes lines 5 through 11 on page 12 of the bill.
Changes 'Section 15.' to 'Section 14.' on line 1 of page 13.

The amendment does not provide details about what was in the removed section, so it's unclear what specific changes this will make to the bill's content.

SF0002S2001

2nd reading • Senator Hicks

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment allows legislators to travel out-of-state for meetings, conferences, or events that benefit the state of Wyoming, in addition to other existing travel policies.

Adds a new provision allowing the Management Council to approve out-of-state travel for legislators if it furthers the interests of Wyoming.

The amendment does not specify how this new travel authorization will be funded or what specific criteria must be met for approval.

SF0002S2002

2nd reading • Senator Hicks

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to limit when task forces can be created, requiring a two-thirds vote of the Management Council only if there is an emergency in Wyoming.

Adds a new section that restricts the creation of task forces by the Management Council to situations where there is an emergency and requires a two-thirds vote for such decisions.

The amendment does not specify what constitutes an 'emergency' in Wyoming, which could lead to interpretation issues.
It's unclear how this change will affect existing task forces or future ones that do not arise from emergencies.

SF0002JC001

Conference Committee

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: The amendment continues two task forces until the end of 2024 and provides funding for their members' salaries, mileage, and per diem.

Continues the Regulatory Reduction Task Force until December 31, 2024, with $20,000 in funding.
Continues the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force until December 31, 2024, with $20,000 in funding.

The amendment text does not provide details on how the task forces will operate or what specific tasks they will perform.

SF0002VT001

Veto Override

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: The amendment overrides the governor's veto on a section related to energy in the original bill.

Overrides the veto of the 'Energy' section from the original bill.

The specific details and content of the overridden 'Energy' section are not provided, so it is unclear what changes or provisions were originally vetoed by the governor.

SF0002VT002

Veto Override

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes specific wording from the original bill related to appropriations for the legislative branch.

Removes the introductory text under section 3-(a) that was previously overridden by a veto.
Eliminates the language in paragraph (a)(i) of section 3 that was also overridden by a previous veto.

The exact content removed is not provided, so it's unclear what specific wording or provisions are being deleted from the bill.

SF0002VT003

Veto Override

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: This amendment removes specific wording from the bill that was previously vetoed.

Removes the introductory part of section (a) on page 3, which had been overridden by a previous veto.
Eliminates paragraph (a)(ii) on page 3, which also had its language overridden by a previous veto.

The exact content removed is not provided in the amendment text, so it's unclear what specific wording was deleted.

SF0002VT004

Veto Override

S Adopted, H Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes paragraph (a)(iii) from page 3 of the bill.

Removes paragraph (a)(iii) which was previously part of the bill.

The specific content and purpose of paragraph (a)(iii) are not provided, so its exact nature or impact cannot be detailed.

SF0002VT005

Veto Override

S Failed

Plain English: This amendment attempts to override a previous veto by removing specific sections and paragraphs from the bill related to legislative appropriations.

Removes the introductory part of section 11(a).
Eliminates paragraph (a)(i) in section 11.
Deletes the label for paragraph (a)(ii) in section 11.

The amendment text does not provide details about what specific language was vetoed, making it hard to understand exactly which parts of the bill are being removed.

SF0002VT006

Veto Override

S Adopted

Plain English: This amendment removes the task force creation section from the bill.

Removes Section 16, which was about creating Task Forces.

The exact details of what these Task Forces were supposed to do are not provided in this amendment text.

Bill History

2024-03-08 Wyoming Legislature
Veto Message Received
2024-03-08 Governor
Governor Vetoed SEA No. 0028
2024-03-07 LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 59
2024-03-04 House
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0028
2024-03-04 Senate
S President Signed SEA No. 0028
2024-03-04 LSO
Assigned Number SEA No. 0028
2024-02-28 House
H Appointed JCC01 Members
2024-02-28 Senate
S Appointed JCC01 Members
2024-02-28 Senate
S Concur:Failed 0-31-0-0-0
2024-02-28 Senate
S Received for Concurrence
2024-02-28 House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 53-9-0-0-0
2024-02-27 House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2024-02-26 House
H COW:Passed
2024-02-23 House
H Placed on General File
2024-02-23 House
H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0
2024-02-19 House
H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations
2024-02-16 House
H Received for Introduction
2024-02-16 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
2024-02-15 Senate
S 3rd Reading:Laid Back
2024-02-14 Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2024-02-13 Senate
S COW:Passed
2024-02-13 Senate
S Placed on General File
2024-02-13 Senate
S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2024-02-12 Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S02 - Appropriations 31-0-0-0-0
2024-02-09 Senate
S Received for Introduction
2024-02-07 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 24LSO-0364

Bill No.:

SF0002

Effective:

7/1/2024

LSO No.:

24LSO-0364

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0028

Chapter No.:

Prime Sponsor:

Management Council

Catch Title:

Legislative budget.

Has Report:

Subject:

Appropriations for Legislative Branch of Government

Summary/Major Elements:

Section 1



This act provides appropriations for the operations of the legislative branch of government, including salaries and expenses for legislators and employees of the legislative branch.

Compensation:

LSO Staff Permanent/Temporary:

$9,853,818
Legislators – Session:

$1,156,600
Legislators – Interim:

$2,537,876
Session Staff:

$650,608
Employer Paid Benefits:

$4,786,512

Travel:

In-State Mileage and Per Diem – Session:

$1,095,024
In-State Mileage and Per Diem – Interim:

$1,238,390
Out-of-State Travel Expenses:

$88,800
Out-of-State Per Diem:

$118,800

Annual Dues:

Energy Council, NCSL, CSG and other:

$590,572

Registration Fees:

$65,600
Telecommunications:

$50,000
ETS Services (Network connections & backup):

$10,000

General Administrative Support:

$1,039,220

Statutes, Session Laws & Digests:

$335,000

Section 1 Total:

$23,617,090

Below the Line Budget Explanation – EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY FUNDS

Section 2
:

Management Council flex authority.
Section 3
:

Reimbursement for out-of-state travel expended in accordance with Management Council policies.
Section 4
:

Carry-over of legislator laptop sales and remainder of FY23-24 legislative budget for extraordinary expenses like litigation and special sessions.
Section 5
:

$150,000 for IT projects (bill drafting system, document management system, other data bases, website, extranet).
Section 6
:

Rules for training reimbursement for legislators-elect and newly appointed legislators.
Section 7
:

$500,000 for school finance recalibration costs. Legislature will need to recalibrate the K-12 funding model during the upcoming biennium.
Section 8
:

$350,000 special contingency subject to direction of the Management Council.
Section 9
:

Authorization of economic development travel appropriation.
Section 10
:

$20,000 for legislator attendance at Treasurer’s Investment Conference.
Section 11
:
$50,000 for LSO for miscellaneous furnishings, fixtures within Capitol and Capitol extension.
[Vetoed by the Governor 3.7.2024]
$10,000 for miscellaneous room management and professional fees.
Section 12
:

$25,000 for salary, per diem and mileage for the legislative members of the Capitol Interpretative Exhibits and Wayfinding Subcommittee.
Section 13
:

$150,000 for the Legislature to host the 2025 CSG West Annual Meeting in Jackson, Wyoming.
Section 14
:

$20,000 to continue the Regulatory Reduction Task Force until December 31, 2024.
Section 15
:

$20,0000 to continue the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force until December 31, 2024.
Section 16:

Restriction on the use of funds by Management Council to create additional task forces – only upon a finding of an emergency and 2/3 vote of the Council’s members.
[Vetoed by the Governor 3.7.2024]

Comments:


Multiple Effective Dates;

Appropriates funds to LSO.
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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

24LSO-0364

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0002

ENROLLED ACT NO. 28,

SENATE

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2024 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to appropriations for the legislature; providing appropriations for the operation of the legislative branch of state government; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

There is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office the following specified amounts, or as much thereof as may be necessary, to pay the costs and expenses of the Wyoming legislature through June 30, 2026:

SALARIES
LSO Staff Permanent/Temporary
.......................
$9,853,818
Legislators – Session
..................................
1,156,600
Legislators – Interim
.................................
2,537,876
Session Staff
..............................................
650,608
Employer Paid Benefits
................................
4,786,512

IN-STATE TRAVEL
Mileage and Per Diem – Session
.......................
1,095,024
Mileage and Per Diem – Interim
.......................
1,238,390

OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL
Travel Expenses
.............................................
88,800
Per Diem
....................................................
118,800

ANNUAL DUES
National Conference of State Legislatures
.............
269,500
The Energy Council
.........................................
76,800
Council of State Governments
............................
229,022
Other
........................................................
15,520

REGISTRATION FEES
...........................................
65,600

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
.........................................
50,000

ETS SERVICES (Network connections & backup)
...........
10,000

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
......................
1,039,220

(Information technology, copying,

supplies and equipment, furniture,

contract services, special projects, etc.)

STATUTES, SESSION LAWS AND DIGESTS
.....................
335,000

TOTAL
..................................................
$ 23,617,090

Section 2.

[Standard Provision-Flex]. The Management Council may transfer funds from one expense category to another under Section 1 of this act as the activities of the legislature may require.

Section 3
.

[Standard Provision-Travel]. The appropriation for out-of-state travel under this act shall be used to reimburse legislators for documented legislative travel and per diem expenses to attend out-of-state meetings in accordance with policies of the Management Council.

In addition to other out-of-state travel authorized in Management Council policies, Management Council may approve out-of-state travel for legislators that furthers the interests of the state of Wyoming.

This travel may include travel to meet with legislators or legislative committees from other states and travel to attend other meetings, conferences or events that further the interests of the state of Wyoming.

Section 4.

[Carry Forward of Prior Appropriations].

(a)

Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
4
‑
207, the unobligated portions of the following appropriations shall not revert on June 30, 2024, and are hereby reappropriated to the legislative service office for the following purposes:

(i)

Any unexpended, unobligated amounts reappropriated for expenditure by the legislative service office under 2022 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 5, Sections 4(a)(i) and 7 are reappropriated for expenditure by the legislative service office for the period commencing July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026.

Expenditures of amounts reappropriated under this paragraph shall be for professional consulting expertise and other support necessary to carry out and execute work of the legislature pertaining to required K-12 education responsibilities, issues and studies.

Professional consulting expertise may be retained by the legislative service office only upon approval of the Management Council, and the unexpended, unobligated amounts may be expended for contractual agreements between the Management Council and professional consultants;

(ii)

Any balance remaining on June 30, 2024, resulting from the sale of legislative laptop computers prior to that date is appropriated to the legislative service office to be used for the purchase of replacement laptop computers and support systems for the period commencing July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026;

(iii)

Any unexpended, unobligated amounts appropriated for expenditure under 2022 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 5 are reappropriated for expenditure by the legislative service office at the direction of the Management Council for extraordinary expenses of the legislature and as necessary to supplement any expense category under this act, for the period commencing July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 5.

[Technology Projects].

(a)

There is appropriated one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for continued development and support of the legislative management system and other continuing legislative information technology projects.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 6.

[New Legislator Training Compensation].

(a)

From and after the date the state canvassing board certifies the results of the 2024 general election in accordance with W.S. 22
‑
16
‑
118, legislators elect and newly appointed legislators may, to the extent authorized by the Management Council, receive mileage and per diem at the same rate as members of the legislature plus an amount equal to the daily salary paid to legislators for each day spent at a legislative training function or at a meeting of an interim committee to which they will be assigned.

(b)

There is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office thirty-four thousand dollars ($34,000.00) for purposes of this section.

(c)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Legislator elect" means a person elected to the legislature during the 2024 general election who is not a current member of the legislature and before the person is duly sworn in;

(ii)

"Newly appointed legislator" means a person appointed after the 2024 general election to fill a vacancy in the House or Senate and before the person is duly sworn in.

Section 7.

[School Finance].

There is appropriated

five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) from the school foundation program account to the legislative service office for professional consulting expertise and other support necessary to carry out and execute work of the legislature pertaining to required K-12 education responsibilities, issues and studies. Professional consulting expertise may be retained by the legislative service office only upon approval of the Management Council, and the unexpended, unobligated amounts may be expended for contractual agreements between the Management Council and professional consultants.

Section 8.

[Special Contingency].

(a)

There is appropriated three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office to be expended at the direction of the Management Council for extraordinary expenses of the legislature and as necessary to supplement any expense category under this act.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 9.

[Economic Development Authorized Travel].

(a)

Subject to available appropriation, le
g
islators traveling ou
t
-of-state, including internationally, in connection

with

executive

branch

legislatively

approved efforts to ex
p
and and diver
s
ify Wyoming's energy and industrial economy or to attract new business enterprises to the state or to imp
r
ove access to and growth in domestic and
international

markets,

are

authorized

reimbursement

actual
travel expenses, including travel, lodging, meals and
necessary incidentals, provided:

(i)

Reimbursement

travel

expenses

for

members of

the

legisla
t
ure

participate

economic

d
evelopment

efforts under this section shall require the approval of the
Management Council;

(ii)

In designating members authorized to receive

travel reimbursement under this section, preference shall be

given to members w
h
o have expressed an intention to seek r
e
-election

to,

mi
d
-term

continue

serve

in,

the

Wyoming legislature during the 2025 and 2026
l
egislative
sessions.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 10.

[Wyoming State Treasurer's Investment Conference].

There is appropriated twenty th
o
usand

dollars

($20,000
.
00)

from

the

g
e
n
e
ral

fund

the

l
egislative

service

office

f
or

payment

r
e
gistration,

mil
e
age

and

per

diem for legislators attending the Wyoming state treasurer's

investment conference in the 2024 or 20
25
interim.

Section 11.

[Facilities Appropriations].

(a)

Management Council may engage the services of consultants and other qualified professionals to procure the items listed in this subsection using funds appropriated under this subsection.

There is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office:

(i)

Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for miscellaneous furnishings and projects in the capitol complex;

(ii)

Ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for room management equipment and professional fees.

(b)

Funds appropriated under this section shall be expended pursuant to all requirements of law, including the requirements of article 3, section 31 of the Wyoming constitution.

(c)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 12
.

[Interpretive Exhibits and Wayfinding Subcommittee].

(a)

There is appropriated twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office to pay the salary, mileage and per diem of the legislative members of the capitol interpretive exhibits and wayfinding subcommittee created by 2021 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 140, Section 8(a).

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 13.

[CSG Annual Meeting].

There is appropriated one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for costs of hosting the 2025 annual meeting of the Council of State Governments West in Wyoming, including providing travel expenses and per diem for members of the legislature and staff of the legislative service office to attend the 2025 annual meeting of the Council of State Governments West.

Section 14.

[Regulatory Reduction Task Force].

(a)

The regulatory reduction task force as it was created and as it existed during the 2023 interim is hereby authorized and continued until December 31, 2024. There is appropriated twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for purposes of providing salary, mileage and per diem to the legislative members of the regulatory reduction task force appointed by the speaker of the house and the president of the senate.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 15.

[Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force].

(a)

The mental health and vulnerable adult task force as it was created and as it existed during the 2023 interim is hereby authorized and continued until December 31, 2024. There is appropriated twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for purposes of providing salary, mileage and per diem to the legislative members of the mental health and vulnerable adult task force appointed by the speaker of the house and the president of the senate.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 16
.

[Creation of Task Forces].

(a)

Management Council shall only expend funds appropriated in this act to create additional task forces comprised of legislators and non-legislators upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the appointed members of Management Council finding that an emergency exists in the state of Wyoming necessitating the creation of a task force through December 31, 2024. Management council may adopt a policy for creating task forces effective for the sixty-eighth legislature and beyond.

(b)

This section is effective immediately.

Section 17.

[Effective Dates].

(a)

As used in this act, "effective immediately" means effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution. Any appropriation contained in this act that is effective immediately shall not lapse until June 30, 2026, unless otherwise specified.

(b)

Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective July 1, 2024.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk