Huge Progress on Budget Negotiations

Posted by Bobbie Frank on February 28, 2026

The Joint Conference Committee (JJC 1) appointed to reconcile differences between the House and Senate version of the state’s biennium budget bill met and negotiated on Friday afternoon. Committee members included Senate President Bo Biteman, Senators Salazar, Crum, Gierau, and Nethercott, and Representatives Bear, Angelos, Heiner, Neiman, and Pendergraft.

Negotiations appeared to have been discussed in advance with significant concessions made on major issues such as the University of Wyoming’s funding and the Wyoming Business Council. The UW funding was largely restored with a caveat that they must conduct an efficiency evaluation and identify savings before the final $10 million of the $40 million appropriation is released. The Business Council was not fully funded for the biennium but was partially funded with a directive on which programs were authorized. The Committee’s full actions will be available and reviewed during a second JCC meeting on Monday morning.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Wyoming Advocacy.