Read the full stored bill text
26LSO-0415
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0415
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0131
Government membership and cooperation with associations.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Brady, Allemand, Brown, G, Johnson, McCann and Smith
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to administration of the government; prohibiting the payment of association and organization membership fees from public funds; prohibiting the payment of expenses for association and organization activities as specified; specifying association-related documents and other materials as public records; requiring government entities to report participation in activities with associations and organizations as specified; repealing the ability to pay for memberships for Wyoming board of professional engineers and professional land surveyors; 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
‑
13
‑
201 and 9
‑
13
‑
202 are created to read:
ARTICLE 2
LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURE OF STATE FUNDS
9
‑
13
‑
201.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this article:
(i)
"Government entity" means the state and all its branches, agencies, departments, commissions, institutions, instrumentalities and all political subdivisions including any county, city, town, school district, special district, joint powers board, community college and the University of Wyoming;
(ii)
"Government member association" means any association or organization which is composed primarily of government entities or their officers or employees and whose purposes include influencing legislative or administrative action. "Government member association" does not include entities created through interstate compact or joint powers boards formed for the primary purpose of performing a specific governmental function or service.
9
‑
13
‑
202.
Membership in associations and organizations of other government entities.
(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no public funds shall be expended by any government entity for any of the following:
(i)
The payment of membership fees or dues to any government member association;
(ii)
Reimbursement for the expenses of room, board or travel that are related to the government entity's participation in the activities of a government member association;
(iii)
Payment by or on behalf of a government entity to any government member association for the purposes of lobbying activities pursuant to W.S. 28
‑
7
‑
101;
(iv)
Contributions to political campaigns or candidates.
(b)
If an officer, employee, contractor or any agent of a government entity participates in the business or activities of a government member association while acting in their official capacity or while using public funds or resources, the government entity shall document the participation. The documentation shall include the amount of time spent and the nature of the work performed while participating in the government member association. The documentation shall be published not less than once a month on the government entity's website.
Section 2.
W.S. 16
‑
4
‑
201(a)(v) and by creating a new paragraph (xv), 18
‑
3
‑
522 and 21
‑
3
‑
111(a)(x) are amended to read:
16
‑
4
‑
201.
Definitions; short title; designation of ombudsman.
(a)
As used in this act:
(v)
"Public records" when not otherwise specified includes any information in a physical form created, accepted, or obtained by a governmental entity in furtherance of its official function and transaction of public business which is not privileged or confidential by law. Without limiting the foregoing, the term "public records" includes any written communication or other information, whether in paper, electronic, or other physical form, received by a governmental entity in furtherance of the transaction of public business of the governmental entity, whether at a meeting or outside a meeting.
Electronic communications solely between students attending a school in Wyoming and electronic communications solely between students attending a school in Wyoming and a sender or recipient using a nonschool user address are not a public record of that school.
Records created by a governmental entity related to the governmental entity's activity with a government member association shall be public records.
As used in this paragraph, a "school in Wyoming" means the University of Wyoming, any community college and any public school within a school district in the state;
(xv)
"Government member association" means any association or organization which is composed primarily of government entities or their officers or employees and whose purposes include influencing legislative or administrative action. "Government member association" does not include entities created through interstate compact or joint powers boards formed for the primary purpose of performing a specific governmental function or service.
18
‑
3
‑
522.
Membership in organizations for furtherance of good government.
Each board of county commissioners may
take out a county membership and
cooperate with associations and organizations of other counties or county officials within or without this state for the furtherance of good government and the protection of county interests.
The cost of
Any
membership
may be paid with county funds
in or cooperation with such associations is subject to W.S. 9
‑
13
‑
202
.
21
‑
3
‑
111.
Powers of boards of trustees
.
(a)
The board of trustees in each school district within the state may:
(x)
Become members of county, state, and national school board associations and pay dues to such associations
,
.
A board of trustees may at its discretion pay necessary travel expenses and per diem of members and personnel attending meetings of such associations at a rate not to exceed that paid state employees
provided that any such membership or payment is subject to W.S. 9
‑
13
‑
202
;
Section 3.
W.S. 33
‑
29
‑
305(a)(ix) is repealed.
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)
1
HB0131