Joint Appropriations Committee reinstates multiple budget provisions, tables demolition decision for Evanston state hospital
January 17, 2025 | Appropriations, Joint & Standing, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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The Wyoming Joint Appropriations Committee on an override session reinstated multiple items the governor had vetoed in the supplemental budget bill and postponed a final decision on demolition at the former Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston.
Committee members voted to override the governor's veto on several sections and footnotes of the supplemental budget bill, restoring language that affects community college workforce programs, K-12 and charter school provisions, certain programmatic funding and restrictions on how reappropriated funds may be used. Committee staff and agency witnesses provided briefings while members moved through individual items by motion and voice vote.
The votes reinstate several specific items the legislature had previously included in the bill. Committee staff explained the technical effect of reinstating Section 307 language: once a section is vetoed and then overridden it will be reinserted under a different section number to avoid number reuse. Mr. Richards, the committee staff presenter, said, "Once an entire section is vetoed, it's our practice...we don't reuse those numbers to avoid any confusion in the future." The committee's action therefore restored the legislature's original conforming amendments and flexibilities tied to Section 307 in the supplemental bill.
Why it matters: the overrides return programmatic direction and spending restrictions to the bill that the governor had removed. Restored language affects how agencies may transfer or expend appropriations, whether several education and agricultural programs appear in a department's standard budget, and the permissible use or reversion of targeted funds. For some items the committee also asked agencies to provide status updates before final floor action to ensure the committee understands whether funds have already been spent.
Key outcomes and supporting details
- Education and agricultural programs: The committee voted to restore language placing Wyoming Ag in the Classroom, We the People (civics), and the Centennial Farm and Ranch programs into the standard budget for the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (agency 24). Representative Sherwood, who spoke in favor, said the programs "all have value" and urged their inclusion in the standard budget. The motion to reinstate the three footnotes carried by voice vote.
- Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP): Staff explained that conforming changes tied to the Section 307 override provide additional flexibility to move funds among budget series for WIP, a community college-industry workforce program intended to expand CTE responsiveness to private-industry demand.
- Game and Fish Fund appropriation: The committee reinstated a legislative appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Game and Fish Fund after a motion from Senator Driscoll and a second. Senator Driscoll argued the language retained commission oversight and would not compel implementation if the commission did not approve.
- Child advocacy and group-home reimbursements: The committee restored language affecting the distribution methodology for $400,000 appropriated to child advocacy centers (removing a prohibition on distribution other than prorated interview counts) and voted to reinstate a $2,400,000 line item limited to room-and-board rate increases for group homes and residential treatment centers. Committee staff noted reversion rules still apply to unexpended appropriations on June 30, 2026.
- Wyoming Stablecoin provisions and contracting language: The panel debated language that would have limited contracts under the stablecoin appropriation to Wyoming-domiciled entities and moved to override the governor's change. Members amended the motion to also strike the word "endeavor" from the provision; the motion carried. Committee staff warned that if contracts have already been signed before the bill's effective date, changes may not be retroactive.
- DEI restrictions and University matching funds: The committee voted to override vetoes that removed language restricting the use of state funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in two contexts: an item limiting state-funded programs and a separate footnote addressing matching/endowment funds tied to the University of Wyoming. Staff explained overriding the veto would require DEI functions that receive state-matching support to be privately funded if the restriction remains.
- Research matching and reversion timing (Piri Lab): The committee reinstated language tying $25,000,000 in carryover research matching funds at the University of Wyoming to a specific purpose (flow-through porous media research). Members discussed the reversion date; the restored language includes an earlier reversion (June 30, 2025) than most other reversions in the bill, which the committee noted would create greater urgency to obligate the funds.
- Salary increase and vacancy rules (Sections 307 and 310): Committee members voted to override vetoed limits on how agencies may roll vacancy savings into future standard budgets and to reinstate a provision limiting how salary increases funded from current savings may be carried into the next standard budget. Representative Pendergraft argued the changes preserve legislative oversight over budget and position counts.
- Charter schools and K-12 mental health grants: The committee restored language that expands eligibility for K-12 mental-health service grants so charter schools may access the grants (by striking the limiting word "district"). The committee also approved language that, if enacted, would allow an additional charter school in western Wyoming (effectively permitting a fifth charter school under the adopted text).
- Evanston demolition (Wyoming State Hospital): Committee members paused action on language tied to demolition and holdback/restriction language for the former Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston. Del McComie, director for the State Construction Department, testified the department had not performed demolition and that earlier solicitations drew no bids; talks were underway with local partners about alternative uses, including a possible training program for asbestos abatement. The committee tabled the item to get updated spending and contract-status information before a final vote.
Votes at a glance (selected items)
- Section 307 conforming language override — Motion: Vice Chair Pendergraft; Second: Senator Smith; Outcome: motion carried (voice vote). Note: committee recorded voice votes; no roll-call tally was read into the record.
- Reinstate Game and Fish $1,000,000 footnote — Motion: Senator Driscoll; Second: Senator Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Reinsert Ag in the Classroom / We the People / Centennial Farm & Ranch into standard budget (Agency 24) — Motion: Representative Sherwood; Second: Senator Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Reinstate $2,400,000 room-and-board limit for group homes — Motion: Senator Wilson; Second: Vice Chair Pendergraft; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Override veto on DEI restrictions and related university matching language — Motion: Vice Chair Pendergraft; Second: Representative Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Wyoming Stablecoin contracting language — Motion to override and strike "endeavor": mover and second noted in the record; Outcome: carried (voice vote). Committee requested agency update on contract status before final floor action.
- Restore $25,000,000 University matching funds restriction (Piri Lab) with June 30, 2025 reversion — Motion carried (voice vote); committee requested status update from agencies.
- Reinstate Sections 307/310 salary limitation language — Motion: Representative Pendergraft; Second: Representative Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Restore K-12 mental health grant language to include charter schools — Motion to override carried; a subsequent motion to rescind that motion was withdrawn after clarification that striking "district" expanded, not limited, eligibility.
What the committee asked for next
Committee members repeatedly asked staff and agency officials to provide up-to-date information about whether specific appropriations have already been spent or if contracts are signed before the committee's final floor action on the supplemental budget. For the Evanston demolition item the committee tabled the matter and asked for a detailed spending and contracting status report before reconsidering.
The meeting concluded after the committee cleared most veto override items and scheduled follow-up reporting; members announced an intended next meeting slot for Monday morning to continue any remaining work before final floor action.
Committee members voted to override the governor's veto on several sections and footnotes of the supplemental budget bill, restoring language that affects community college workforce programs, K-12 and charter school provisions, certain programmatic funding and restrictions on how reappropriated funds may be used. Committee staff and agency witnesses provided briefings while members moved through individual items by motion and voice vote.
The votes reinstate several specific items the legislature had previously included in the bill. Committee staff explained the technical effect of reinstating Section 307 language: once a section is vetoed and then overridden it will be reinserted under a different section number to avoid number reuse. Mr. Richards, the committee staff presenter, said, "Once an entire section is vetoed, it's our practice...we don't reuse those numbers to avoid any confusion in the future." The committee's action therefore restored the legislature's original conforming amendments and flexibilities tied to Section 307 in the supplemental bill.
Why it matters: the overrides return programmatic direction and spending restrictions to the bill that the governor had removed. Restored language affects how agencies may transfer or expend appropriations, whether several education and agricultural programs appear in a department's standard budget, and the permissible use or reversion of targeted funds. For some items the committee also asked agencies to provide status updates before final floor action to ensure the committee understands whether funds have already been spent.
Key outcomes and supporting details
- Education and agricultural programs: The committee voted to restore language placing Wyoming Ag in the Classroom, We the People (civics), and the Centennial Farm and Ranch programs into the standard budget for the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (agency 24). Representative Sherwood, who spoke in favor, said the programs "all have value" and urged their inclusion in the standard budget. The motion to reinstate the three footnotes carried by voice vote.
- Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP): Staff explained that conforming changes tied to the Section 307 override provide additional flexibility to move funds among budget series for WIP, a community college-industry workforce program intended to expand CTE responsiveness to private-industry demand.
- Game and Fish Fund appropriation: The committee reinstated a legislative appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Game and Fish Fund after a motion from Senator Driscoll and a second. Senator Driscoll argued the language retained commission oversight and would not compel implementation if the commission did not approve.
- Child advocacy and group-home reimbursements: The committee restored language affecting the distribution methodology for $400,000 appropriated to child advocacy centers (removing a prohibition on distribution other than prorated interview counts) and voted to reinstate a $2,400,000 line item limited to room-and-board rate increases for group homes and residential treatment centers. Committee staff noted reversion rules still apply to unexpended appropriations on June 30, 2026.
- Wyoming Stablecoin provisions and contracting language: The panel debated language that would have limited contracts under the stablecoin appropriation to Wyoming-domiciled entities and moved to override the governor's change. Members amended the motion to also strike the word "endeavor" from the provision; the motion carried. Committee staff warned that if contracts have already been signed before the bill's effective date, changes may not be retroactive.
- DEI restrictions and University matching funds: The committee voted to override vetoes that removed language restricting the use of state funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in two contexts: an item limiting state-funded programs and a separate footnote addressing matching/endowment funds tied to the University of Wyoming. Staff explained overriding the veto would require DEI functions that receive state-matching support to be privately funded if the restriction remains.
- Research matching and reversion timing (Piri Lab): The committee reinstated language tying $25,000,000 in carryover research matching funds at the University of Wyoming to a specific purpose (flow-through porous media research). Members discussed the reversion date; the restored language includes an earlier reversion (June 30, 2025) than most other reversions in the bill, which the committee noted would create greater urgency to obligate the funds.
- Salary increase and vacancy rules (Sections 307 and 310): Committee members voted to override vetoed limits on how agencies may roll vacancy savings into future standard budgets and to reinstate a provision limiting how salary increases funded from current savings may be carried into the next standard budget. Representative Pendergraft argued the changes preserve legislative oversight over budget and position counts.
- Charter schools and K-12 mental health grants: The committee restored language that expands eligibility for K-12 mental-health service grants so charter schools may access the grants (by striking the limiting word "district"). The committee also approved language that, if enacted, would allow an additional charter school in western Wyoming (effectively permitting a fifth charter school under the adopted text).
- Evanston demolition (Wyoming State Hospital): Committee members paused action on language tied to demolition and holdback/restriction language for the former Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston. Del McComie, director for the State Construction Department, testified the department had not performed demolition and that earlier solicitations drew no bids; talks were underway with local partners about alternative uses, including a possible training program for asbestos abatement. The committee tabled the item to get updated spending and contract-status information before a final vote.
Votes at a glance (selected items)
- Section 307 conforming language override — Motion: Vice Chair Pendergraft; Second: Senator Smith; Outcome: motion carried (voice vote). Note: committee recorded voice votes; no roll-call tally was read into the record.
- Reinstate Game and Fish $1,000,000 footnote — Motion: Senator Driscoll; Second: Senator Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Reinsert Ag in the Classroom / We the People / Centennial Farm & Ranch into standard budget (Agency 24) — Motion: Representative Sherwood; Second: Senator Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Reinstate $2,400,000 room-and-board limit for group homes — Motion: Senator Wilson; Second: Vice Chair Pendergraft; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Override veto on DEI restrictions and related university matching language — Motion: Vice Chair Pendergraft; Second: Representative Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Wyoming Stablecoin contracting language — Motion to override and strike "endeavor": mover and second noted in the record; Outcome: carried (voice vote). Committee requested agency update on contract status before final floor action.
- Restore $25,000,000 University matching funds restriction (Piri Lab) with June 30, 2025 reversion — Motion carried (voice vote); committee requested status update from agencies.
- Reinstate Sections 307/310 salary limitation language — Motion: Representative Pendergraft; Second: Representative Smith; Outcome: carried (voice vote).
- Restore K-12 mental health grant language to include charter schools — Motion to override carried; a subsequent motion to rescind that motion was withdrawn after clarification that striking "district" expanded, not limited, eligibility.
What the committee asked for next
Committee members repeatedly asked staff and agency officials to provide up-to-date information about whether specific appropriations have already been spent or if contracts are signed before the committee's final floor action on the supplemental budget. For the Evanston demolition item the committee tabled the matter and asked for a detailed spending and contracting status report before reconsidering.
The meeting concluded after the committee cleared most veto override items and scheduled follow-up reporting; members announced an intended next meeting slot for Monday morning to continue any remaining work before final floor action.
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