Committee amends bond‑election law to require fuller turnout; moves measure with 25% threshold
January 17, 2025 | Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, House of Representative, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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Representative Skybar introduced House Bill 79, a proposal to add a voter‑turnout threshold for bond elections held on dates other than the general election. The bill’s sponsor highlighted low turnout in recent special bond elections and said the measure would encourage better public notice or move bond questions to general election dates.
“The data I gathered from last bond elections … in my county the last one we had, there was 7,173 eligible voters. Only 347 voted. That's 4.84%,” Representative Skybar told the committee as background for the proposal.
Supporters argued the absence of a turnout threshold allows measures that affect local budgets and services to be decided by very small electorates. Secretary Gray testified in favor of a statutory threshold and said some limit is needed because many special bond elections have low turnout.
Opponents and local government groups urged caution. The Wyoming Association of Municipalities told the committee it opposed the bill in its current form, warning that delaying a vote until a general election could increase project costs and complicate emergency financing. The Wyoming County Commissioners Association said some off‑year bond elections are used to address urgent local needs and asked for amendments to ensure counties retain needed flexibility.
Amendment and vote: During the hearing Representative Yin moved to change the proposed 50% turnout requirement to 25% of the turnout in the immediate preceding general election; the amendment was seconded and carried. With that change, the committee approved the bill on a roll call vote of 9 ayes, 0 no. Secretary Gray noted the bill’s calculation uses turnout from the prior general election rather than overall registered voter totals.
What remains: If enacted, an off‑cycle bond election would not be approved unless the number of ballots cast meets the statute’s turnout threshold (25% of the preceding general election turnout, plus one) and a majority of votes favor the proposal. Municipal and county officials signaled they will seek amendments on implementation details and exceptions for emergency financing.
Ending: The committee advanced HB 79 as amended; the bill will go to the full House for further consideration and potential floor amendments.
“The data I gathered from last bond elections … in my county the last one we had, there was 7,173 eligible voters. Only 347 voted. That's 4.84%,” Representative Skybar told the committee as background for the proposal.
Supporters argued the absence of a turnout threshold allows measures that affect local budgets and services to be decided by very small electorates. Secretary Gray testified in favor of a statutory threshold and said some limit is needed because many special bond elections have low turnout.
Opponents and local government groups urged caution. The Wyoming Association of Municipalities told the committee it opposed the bill in its current form, warning that delaying a vote until a general election could increase project costs and complicate emergency financing. The Wyoming County Commissioners Association said some off‑year bond elections are used to address urgent local needs and asked for amendments to ensure counties retain needed flexibility.
Amendment and vote: During the hearing Representative Yin moved to change the proposed 50% turnout requirement to 25% of the turnout in the immediate preceding general election; the amendment was seconded and carried. With that change, the committee approved the bill on a roll call vote of 9 ayes, 0 no. Secretary Gray noted the bill’s calculation uses turnout from the prior general election rather than overall registered voter totals.
What remains: If enacted, an off‑cycle bond election would not be approved unless the number of ballots cast meets the statute’s turnout threshold (25% of the preceding general election turnout, plus one) and a majority of votes favor the proposal. Municipal and county officials signaled they will seek amendments on implementation details and exceptions for emergency financing.
Ending: The committee advanced HB 79 as amended; the bill will go to the full House for further consideration and potential floor amendments.
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