Wyoming House Blocks School Funding Overhaul, Senate May Revive It

Proposed changes to how public schools get state money failed to clear the state House, but the Senate version could still pass.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Wyoming state House voted down a bill that would have overhauled how the state funds public K-12 schools, including adding over $50 million in new spending and restricting how districts can use that money. However, the state Senate has its own version of the funding "recalibration" bill that could still rescue the proposal.

Why it matters

The proposed changes to the school funding formula are controversial, with some educators expressing distrust in lawmakers' intentions. The outcome could have significant impacts on public school budgets and operations across Wyoming.

The details

The failed House bill would have limited how districts can spend state education funds, requiring them to isolate teacher salaries into a separate block grant. It would also have changed the key metric for funding from a three-year student attendance average to the most recent year's figures, with a 5% cap on year-over-year declines. While the House version failed to advance, the Senate is considering its own version that could still pass.

  • The Wyoming state House voted down the school funding overhaul bill on February 9, 2026.
  • The state Senate is now considering its own version of the "recalibration" bill.

The players

Mike Yin

A Democratic state representative from Jackson who voted against the House bill, citing a lack of trust from educators in lawmakers' intentions.

Wendy Schuler

A Republican state senator from Evanston who proposed a compromise on the funding changes.

Scott Heiner

A Republican state representative from Green River and co-chair of the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration, who wrote a column defending the proposed teacher pay increases in the bill.

Lloyd Larsen

A Republican state representative from Lander who voted against the House bill after meeting with school superintendents who identified "flaws" in the legislation.

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What they’re saying

“There was just a lack of trust among school boards and educators that we'd do something about all the issues.”

— Mike Yin, State Representative (Cowboy State Daily)

“Targeted cuts to the state's budget were made in other areas to ensure that the spending increases approved by the recalibration Committee could be made responsibly.”

— Scott Heiner, State Representative (Cowboy State Daily)

What’s next

The state Senate will now consider its own version of the school funding "recalibration" bill, which could still rescue the proposed changes if passed.

The takeaway

The failure of the school funding overhaul bill in the Wyoming House highlights the ongoing tensions and lack of trust between lawmakers and educators over the direction of public education funding in the state.