Wyoming Lawmakers Restore $40M in UW Funding, Make Other Budget Changes

Legislative conference committee reconciles differences between House and Senate budget proposals

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Wyoming Legislature's Joint Conference Committee met to reconcile the $170 million difference between the House and Senate versions of the state's 2027-28 biennium budget. The committee ultimately moved to restore approximately $60.9 million in general funds to the University of Wyoming's standard budget, aligning with the governor's recommendation, but with some strings attached. The committee also made decisions regarding the Wyoming Business Council, health care funding, and other key budget items.

Why it matters

The state budget is a crucial document that outlines funding priorities and shapes the future of Wyoming. The decisions made by the Joint Conference Committee will impact a wide range of state agencies, programs, and initiatives, with far-reaching consequences for the people of Wyoming.

The details

The committee restored a proposed $40 million cut to the University of Wyoming's block grant, but with a requirement for the university to perform a comprehensive organizational review and identify at least $5 million in efficiency savings. The budget also contains a footnote prohibiting the use of general fund appropriations for student-athlete salaries or endorsement compensation. For the Wyoming Business Council, the committee significantly curtailed the agency's autonomy, limiting its budget for certain divisions to a single year and authorizing a $100,000 forensic audit. In the health care realm, the committee opted to increase funding for developmental disability provider rates, waitlist reductions, and senior and nutritional services, but denied the governor's recommendation for certain federal nutrition programs.

  • The Joint Conference Committee met on Friday, March 5, 2026 to reconcile the budget differences.
  • The committee staff will prepare the formal Joint Conference Committee Report, which is expected to be signed by three members from each chamber on Monday, March 8, 2026.
  • Once signed, the report will head to the House and Senate floors for a final 'up or down' vote.

The players

University of Wyoming

The state's public university, which had its funding restored by the committee but with some conditions attached.

Wyoming Business Council

The state's economic development agency, which saw its autonomy significantly curtailed by the committee.

Mark Gordon

The Governor of Wyoming, whose original budget recommendations were largely restored by the committee.

Joint Conference Committee

The legislative committee tasked with reconciling the differences between the House and Senate budget proposals.

House and Senate

The two chambers of the Wyoming Legislature, which passed their own amended versions of the budget before the Joint Conference Committee met.

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What they’re saying

“We're ready to do some great work here for the people of Wyoming, and I think we can come up with a good solution and get this on the governor's desk right away.”

— John Bear, Representative (wyopio.com)

“The concept is that the University of Wyoming would receive, by this appropriation, automatically, $30 million. And there would be an additional $10 million that the university would receive subject to the receipt of a report...identifying at least $5 million in efficiency savings.”

— Tara Nethercott, Senator (wyopio.com)

What’s next

The formal Joint Conference Committee Report will be signed by three members from each chamber on Monday, March 8, 2026. Once signed, the report will head to the House and Senate floors for a final 'up or down' vote. If passed by both chambers, the budget will proceed to Governor Mark Gordon for his consideration and potential line-item vetoes.

The takeaway

The Wyoming Legislature's budget negotiations highlight the ongoing balancing act between funding priorities and fiscal responsibility. The decisions made by the Joint Conference Committee will have far-reaching impacts on the state's institutions, programs, and the lives of its citizens.