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HB0277 • 2025

Capitol complex-hotel and conference center.

AN ACT relating to the administration of the government; authorizing a public-private partnership for a construction project as specified; specifying parameters of the project; providing definitions; requiring reports; authorizing the investment of funds; providing legislative intent; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Harshman
Last action
2025-02-03
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the bidding process or the exact location of parking spaces, which were mentioned in the candidate explanation.

Hotel and Conference Center at Capitol Complex

This act allows the state government to partner with private companies to build a hotel and conference center near the capitol building in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates rules for a public-private partnership to develop a hotel and conference center on specific land in downtown Cheyenne.
  • Requires that the hotel have at least 200 rooms and can host conferences with up to 1,000 people.
  • Specifies that the state treasurer can invest up to 90% of permanent state funds for construction costs.
  • Requires annual reports on the project's progress and financial performance.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Wyoming Department of Administration
  • Private companies interested in partnering with the state
  • Residents and visitors who use the hotel and conference center

Terms To Know

Public-private partnership
A collaboration between a government agency and private sector company to develop or manage a project.
Permanent state funds
Money set aside by the state that can be used for specific purposes, like construction projects.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not considered for introduction.
  • Details about how private companies will bid on the project are outlined but not fully explained in this summary.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-03 House

    H Did not Consider for Introduction

  2. 2025-01-23 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2025-01-22 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
25LSO-0477
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0477
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0277

Capitol complex-hotel and conference center.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Nicholas and Wylie and Senator(s) Anderson

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the administration of the government; authorizing a public-private partnership for a construction project as specified; specifying parameters of the project; providing definitions; requiring reports; authorizing the investment of funds; providing legislative intent; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
‑
5
‑
114 is created to read:

9
‑
5
‑
114.

State capitol complex hotel and conference center.

(a)

As used in this section, "parcel" means the parcel of land located in Laramie county, downtown Safeway, lot 1, block 1, more particularly described as all of lots 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 of block 104, all of block 105 of the original city of Cheyenne, Thomes avenue lying between the southerly right of way of west 26th street and the northerly right of way line of west 25th street, and the alley in block 104 lying adjacent to and contiguous with said lots 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 of block 104, of the original city of Cheyenne.

(b)

Subject to the requirements of this section, the department shall enter into a public
‑
private partnership agreement with a person for the development, construction, operation and maintenance of a hotel and conference center located on the parcel.

(c)

The hotel and conference center constructed under this section shall:

(i)

Have not less than two hundred (200) rooms available for lodging;

(ii)

Provide conference facilities for a conference capable of accommodating not less than one thousand (1,000) attendees;

(iii)

Provide food and beverage options appropriate for a hotel and conference center with the features specified in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this subsection;

(iv)

Provide an appropriate number of parking spaces for a hotel and conference center with the features specified in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this subsection. For purposes of this paragraph, parking may be addressed or provided offsite.

(d)

The department shall solicit bids for a person to enter into an agreement for the development, construction and operation of a hotel and conference center as provided by this section. Bids shall be solicited in accordance with law. In reviewing bids received under this subsection and selecting a person for the public
‑
private partnership agreement, the department shall take into account, at a minimum:

(i)

The bidder's plans for constructing the hotel and conference center in accordance with this section;

(ii)

The bidder's current and past business practices;

(iii)

The bidder's past and present performance in developing, financing, constructing, managing or operating hotels and conference centers;

(iv)

Whether the bidder has previously performed public works contracts and public
‑
private partnerships;

(v)

The total costs for constructing, managing and operating the hotel and conference center, the anticipated revenues and profits for the hotel and conference center and the proposed contributions of the bidder.

(e)

The public
‑
private partnership agreement entered into under this section shall include, at a minimum:

(i)

The term of the agreement, including whether any extensions of the agreement may be made and under what conditions the agreement may be extended;

(ii)

The powers, duties, responsibilities, obligations and functions of the department and the selected person;

(iii)

Compensation and payments to be made to the state;

(iv)

Compensation and payments to be made to the selected person;

(v)

A provision that authorizes the department to have access to any information related to the selected person's powers, duties, responsibilities, obligations, functions and work performed under the agreement;

(vi)

A provision that authorizes the department to direct, revise or overrule design, construction and operation decisions of the selected person;

(vii)

Any other provision necessary to ensure the state's interest, including property rights, limitations on liability on part of the state and rights and remedies available to the state in the event of default or noncompliance.

(f)

The state treasurer, with the approval of the board, shall invest any permanent state funds available under W.S. 9
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4
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715(n) for the construction and operation of the hotel and conference center authorized in this section. Funds invested under this subsection shall not exceed ninety percent (90%) of the total design and construction costs.

(g)

All revenues, payments and other earnings received by the state from the operation of the hotel and conference center shall be deposited in the public school foundation program account.

(h)

Not later than November 1 of each year, the department and the state treasurer shall report to the joint appropriations committee and the select committee on capital financing and investments on:

(i)

The construction of the hotel and conference center specified in this section, until construction is complete;

(ii)

The operation of the hotel and conference center, including revenues and profits earned from the operation;

(iii)

The investment of state funds under subsection (f) of this section, including earnings on the investment made under subsection (f) of this section.

Section 2.

W.S. 9
‑
5
‑
110(a)(intro) is amended to read:

9
‑
5
‑
110.

State capitol building rehabilitation and restoration project; definitions.

(a)

As used in W.S. 9
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5
‑
109 through
9
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5
‑
113
9
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5
‑
114
:

Section 3
.

It is the intent of the legislature that a public
‑
private partnership for the development, construction and operation of a hotel and conference center adjacent to the state capitol complex will allow the state capitol complex to provide needed amenities that will provide and will be a public benefit to the state of Wyoming.

Section 4
.

This act is 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.

(END)

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HB0277