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26LSO-0378
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0378
ENGROSSED
3.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0104
Higher education-research funding.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Scott, Biteman and Rothfuss and Representative(s) Neiman
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to higher education; providing funding for specified research projects at the University of Wyoming; allocating revenue generated by research as specified; specifying conditions and permitted uses for appropriated funds; authorizing fundraising to support research projects; requiring nonstate matching funds as specified; creating an account; 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. 21
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16
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2001 is created to read:
ARTICLE 20
FACULTY RESEARCH PROJECTS
21
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16
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2001.
Faculty research projects; incentives.
(a)
The university faculty research project account is created. All investment earnings from funds in the account shall be credited to the account. Notwithstanding 9
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2
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1008, 9
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2
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1012(e) or 9
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4
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207, funds within the account shall not lapse or revert. Funds within the account are continuously appropriated to the university and shall remain available for distribution as provided by this section.
(b)
The funds within the account created by subsection (a) of this section shall be used to incentivize and fund faculty research projects at the University of Wyoming by providing funds for:
(i)
The acquisition of enhanced research capabilities, additional research
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related equipment or both;
(ii)
Research projects that interest particular donors who have provided matching funds as provided by subsection (c) of this section and that coincide with the mission of the university;
(iii)
Research projects requested by Wyoming businesses that fit the university's current research strengths, regardless of whether the businesses provide matching funds for the research;
(iv)
Other research projects specified by the university;
(v)
Research stipends for graduate students assisting with research projects funded, in whole or in part, with the funds appropriated from the university faculty research project account, where a graduate student shall receive a research stipend of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) per month in addition to the graduate student's regular income. Funds expended under this paragraph shall not require matching funds.
(c)
Except as provided by paragraph (b)(v) of this section, funds appropriated from the account shall only be expended by the university as matching funds for research projects under paragraphs (b)(i) through (iv) of this section upon receipt of matching nonstate funds at the rate of one dollar ($1.00) of appropriated funds for not less than one dollar ($1.00) of matching nonstate funds from any person.
(d)
Unless the University of Wyoming negotiates an explicit profit distribution model for a research project with the faculty researcher or the university negotiates to retain no percentage or a different percentage of ownership of any innovation or patent right, the profits and ownership from research conducted at the University of Wyoming, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated from the university faculty research project account, shall be distributed as follows:
(i)
Fifteen percent (15%) to the University of Wyoming;
(ii)
Eight‑five percent (85%) to the faculty researcher.
(e)
For purposes of this section, "person" includes an individual, partnership, corporation, joint stock company or any other association or entity, excluding all public entities.
(f)
The University of Wyoming shall report to the joint education interim committee, joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee and the joint appropriations committee not later than October 1, 2027 and not less than annually thereafter on the number of research projects funded in whole or in part by this section, the subjects of the funded research and the amount of money expended on each funded project. The University of Wyoming shall also report on the number of graduate students who received research stipends under paragraph (b)(v) of this section and the amount of money expended on those stipends.
Section 2
.
(a)
There is appropriated fifty million dollars ($50,000,000.00) from the general fund to the university faculty research project account created by this act. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose. This appropriation shall not lapse or revert, notwithstanding W.S. 9
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2
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1008, 9
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2
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1012(e) and 9
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4
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207. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the standard budget for the University of Wyoming for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium, provided that the University of Wyoming may include this appropriation as an exception request for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
(b)
There is appropriated one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000.00) from the general fund to the University of Wyoming for purposes of providing research stipends for graduate students in accordance with W.S. 21
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16
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2001(b)(v), as created by section 1 of this act. 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 be included in the standard budget of the University of Wyoming for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
(c)
The appropriations in this section shall not be deemed as part of the University of Wyoming's state aid program as appropriated in the biennial budget bill. Funds within the state aid program appropriated to the university shall not be used to match funds appropriated in this section but may be used for fundraising purposes to raise the necessary matching funds.
Section 3.
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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SF0104