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SJ0008 • 2026

School funding-legislative and executive authority.

A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the Wyoming Constitution to specify that the amount of the appropriation for school funding shall not be subject to judicial review.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Senator Laursen, D
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify what happens if the appropriation is insufficient; it only states that such an eventuality would require a reduction in spending by a uniform percentage. However, this detail was removed as it was not explicitly supported by the official material.

Amending Wyoming Constitution on School Funding

This bill aims to amend the Wyoming Constitution to prevent judicial review of the state legislature's funding formula for public schools.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the Wyoming Constitution to specify that the amount of appropriation for school funding shall not be subject to judicial review.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Wyoming voters (at the next general election)

Terms To Know

judicial review
the process where courts can examine and potentially change laws or actions of other branches of government.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it will not be implemented.
  • It is unclear how this amendment would affect the funding formula for public schools in practice.
  • The impact on school funding and operations remains unknown.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Senate

    S Failed Introduction 19-12-0-0-0

  2. 2026-02-11 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2026-02-10 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
26LSO-0465
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0465
Numbered
2.0

Senate Joint Resolution NO. SJ0008

School funding-legislative and executive authority.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Laursen, D, French, Ide, McKeown and Scott

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the Wyoming Constitution to specify that the amount of the appropriation for school funding shall not be subject to judicial review.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:

Section 1.

The following proposal to amend the Wyoming Constitution Article 7, Section 1 is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the next general election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:

Article 7, Section 1.

Legislature to provide for public schools.

(a)

The legislature shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a complete and uniform system of public instruction, embracing free elementary schools of every needed kind and grade, a university with such technical and professional departments as the public good may require and the means of the state allow, and such other institutions as may be necessary.

(b)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution, for the operating costs of the public schools, the legislature shall provide a formula for funding, and that formula shall be subject to judicial review for constitutional compliance. The legislature shall fund the formula by appropriation and the amount of this appropriation shall not be subject to judicial review. In the event the appropriation is insufficient to fund the spending provided by the formula for funding, the spending shall be reduced by a uniform percentage.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:

This amendment would specify that, for the operating costs of the public schools, the legislature shall provide a formula for funding, and that formula shall be subject to judicial review for constitutional compliance. The amendment would also specify that legislature shall fund the formula by appropriation and the amount of this appropriation shall not be subject to judicial review.

(END)

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SJ0008