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26LSO-0481
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0481
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0150
Wyoming business council-evaluation and reform.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Geringer, Byron, Davis, Filer, Fornstrom, Lawley, Thayer and Williams and Senator(s) Barlow, Brennan, Crago, Love and Olsen
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to the administration of the government; creating a task force; specifying duties of the task force in evaluating the Wyoming business council; specifying additional ex officio members of the Wyoming business council board; specifying duties of the Wyoming business council; requiring reports; providing appropriations;
and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
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W.S. 9
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12
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103(a) is amended to read:
9
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103.
Wyoming business council; creation; composition; compensation; termination; meetings; surety bonds; fiscal control.
(a)
There is created the Wyoming business council.
The council is a body corporate operating as a state instrumentality operated solely for the public benefit. As such it shall have, and is hereby vested with, the powers and duties conferred in this chapter.
Beginning March 1, 2022, it shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of thirteen (13) voting directors, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The governor shall be a member and cochairman of the board, but shall not vote.
The appointed directors shall have demonstrated leadership and business expertise.
An equal number of directors shall be appointed to initial terms of one (1), two (2) and three (3) years. Thereafter, directors shall serve for terms of three (3) years. No appointed director shall serve more than two (2) successive three (3) year terms. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint a successor in accordance with W.S. 28
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101. The governor may remove any board member he appoints for cause and shall remove any director who fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the council.
No appointed council member shall send a designee to attend a council meeting nor vote by proxy.
The board shall select one (1) of its members to act as cochairman of the board.
The board shall retain a chief executive officer.
The chief executive officer serves at the pleasure of the board.
All of the appointed directors shall be appointed at large and at least twelve (12) of the appointed directors shall be residents of Wyoming.
In addition to the appointed voting members, there shall be one (1) ex officio nonvoting member appointed by the president of the senate and one (1) ex officio nonvoting member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
Section 2.
(a)
There is created the Wyoming business council strategic advisory task force to consist of the following members:
(i)
The governor or the governor's designee;
(ii)
Two (2) members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. One (1) member appointed under this paragraph shall be designated by the speaker of the house as cochairman of the task force;
(iii)
Two (2) members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate. One (1) member appointed under this paragraph shall be designated by the president of the senate as cochairman of the task force;
(iv)
One (1) member of the Wyoming business council board of directors;
(v)
One (1) member representing business in Wyoming, recommended by a statewide organization representing Wyoming business and appointed by the governor;
(vi)
One (1) member representing manufacturing business in Wyoming, appointed by the governor;
(vii)
One (1) member representing agriculture business in Wyoming, appointed by the governor;
(viii)
One (1) member representing the oil, gas or mineral industry, appointed by the governor;
(ix)
One (1) member representing the tourism industry, appointed by the governor;
(x)
Two (2) members representing local economic development organizations in Wyoming, appointed by the governor;
(xi)
One (1) member who is an elected official of a city or town in Wyoming, recommended by a statewide organization representing municipalities in Wyoming and appointed by the governor;
(xii)
One (1) member who is an elected official of a county in Wyoming, recommended by a statewide organization representing counties in Wyoming and appointed by the governor.
(b)
The task force shall be staffed by the legislative service office.
(c)
The task force shall meet not less than three (3) times during the work of the task force.
(d)
Legislative members of the task force shall receive salary, per diem and mileage as provided by W.S. 28
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101. Members of the task force who are not members of the legislature or state employees shall receive per diem and mileage as provided by W.S. 28
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101.
(e)
The task force shall:
(i)
Evaluate the Wyoming business council and its programs, duties and functions, including those programs, duties and functions assumed or delegated to the Wyoming business council that are not specified in the Wyoming Economic Development Act;
(ii)
Review economic development initiatives from similar states to Wyoming to inform and develop proposed recommendations and possible policy changes for the Wyoming business council;
(iii)
Review the information reported and submitted by the Wyoming business council under section 3 of this act;
(iv)
Consider and develop a proposed strategic direction for the Wyoming business council that represents the needs of the Wyoming business community;
(v)
Evaluate which programs, duties and functions of the Wyoming business council should be retained, modified, privatized, transferred or eliminated;
(vi)
Consider and develop recommended improvements for the operations of the Wyoming business council, including how the Wyoming business council interacts with and involves the Wyoming business community;
(vii)
Develop recommendations for a clear method for communicating and reporting the work and operations of the Wyoming business council to the governor's office and the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee;
(viii)
Evaluate other community infrastructure development programs and opportunities that may be available through consensus block grant funding, mineral royalty grants or other funding mechanisms;
(ix)
Consider and make recommendations for the incorporation and funding of regional comprehensive economic development strategies through the Wyoming business council in coordination with local governments and economic development organizations;
(x)
Consider and make a recommendation to the legislature about the creation of a select economic development committee;
(xi)
Consider and develop proposed legislation to implement any recommendations or proposals developed through the task force's work under this subsection.
(f)
Not later than October 1, 2026, the task force shall:
(i)
Report its findings and recommendations for the Wyoming business council to the governor and the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee;
(ii)
Forward any proposed legislation for the 2027 general session to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee or to another applicable committee.
(g)
The task force may request the assistance of any state agency or other entity in completing its work. Upon receiving a request under this subsection, each agency or entity shall provide assistance to the task force as requested.
(h)
The task force created under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2026.
Section 3
.
(a)
On the effective date of this act, the Wyoming business council shall not take any action that expands any program, duty or function of the Wyoming business council and shall not assume any new program, duty or function until July 1, 2027, unless otherwise required by law.
(b)
Not later than April 30, 2026, the Wyoming business council shall report to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee, the governor, the state budget department and the Wyoming energy authority on all of the following:
(i)
The total amount of grant funds and financial aid obligated for disbursement as of April 30, 2026 but not disbursed;
(ii)
The number of loans executed by the Wyoming business council that are still outstanding as of April 30, 2026. In reporting information under this paragraph, the Wyoming business council shall itemize each loan by program and report the recipient of each outstanding loan, the terms and conditions of each outstanding loan, the repayment schedule for each loan and the amount remaining to be repaid for each outstanding loan;
(iii)
The number of bonds executed by the Wyoming business council before April 30, 2026 that are still outstanding as of April 30, 2026. In reporting information under this paragraph, the Wyoming business council shall report each outstanding bond, the terms and conditions of each outstanding bond and any amount remaining to be paid or repaid for each outstanding bond;
(iv)
Agreements or contracts for grants, loans, bonds and financial aid for which the state receives or will receive a portion or all of the funds upon a sale of property or the project;
(v)
All real and personal property owned or held by the Wyoming business council as of April 30, 2026. Information reported under this paragraph shall include the program or function for which the property is owned or held;
(vi)
Each program and function administered or operated by the Wyoming business council;
(vii)
Each set or group of funds received or managed by the Wyoming business council;
(viii)
The return on investment for each program operated or administered by the Wyoming business council.
Section 4.
(a)
There is appropriated twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for purposes of providing salary, per diem and mileage to the legislative members of the task force created under section 2 of this act.
This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2028.
This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2028.
(b)
There is appropriated forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) from the general fund to the office of the governor for purposes of providing per diem and mileage to nonlegislative members of the task force created under section 2 of this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2028. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2028. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the standard budget of the office of the governor for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
(c)
There is appropriated seventy
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five thousand dollars ($75,000.00) from the general fund to the legislative service office for purposes of securing expert or consulting services associated with the evaluation and review of the Wyoming business council specified in this act.
This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2028. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2028.
(d)
The legislative service office and the office of the governor may accept grants, gifts and donations to be utilized for the purposes specified in this section.
Section 5.
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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HB0150