School finance-cash reserves.
This bill extends the sunset date for allowing Wyoming school districts to hold operating balances and cash reserves up to 30% of their state funding base (instead of the previous 15%), effective through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028. It requires districts to separately track reserves exceeding 15% and prohibits using these funds for new capital construction (though major building repairs are permitted). The bill directly affects all public school districts in Wyoming by modifying their reserve limits and reporting requirements under state school finance rules. The change aims to provide districts with more flexibility in managing financial reserves while maintaining accountability through specific reporting mechanisms.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Feb 2025
Introduced Jan 23, 2025
Signed Feb 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Feb 28, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Wyoming's school finance law to extend the sunset date for increasing school district operating balances and cash reserves from 2026 to 2028. It raises the allowable reserve threshold from 15% to 30% of the foundation program amount during this extended period and clarifies that funds above the threshold cannot be used for capital construction. The change provides districts with greater financial flexibility for reserves while maintaining restrictions on how excess funds can be spent.
Scope change
The bill extends the applicability of the reserve increase provision from the original 2022-2026 period to 2022-2028, affecting all Wyoming school districts during the extended timeframe.
TIMELINE
Extended the sunset date for the reserve increase provision from fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2028.
FISCAL
Increased the allowable school district operating balance and cash reserve threshold from 15% to 30% of the foundation program amount during the extended period.
REQUIREMENT
Added specific reporting requirements for the amount of operating balance and cash reserves that may be increased from 15% to 30%, which must be reported separately and cannot be transferred or expended for capital construction.
DEFINITION
Clarified that 'capital construction' does not include major building and facility repair and replacement as defined under W.S. 21-15-109(a)(iii).
Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2025 · House Feb 25, 2025
How they voted
23–7
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 31
Feb 6, 2025
D
Democratic2
100% Yea
R
Republican29
72% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Feb 28, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed SEA No. 0037
legislature
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
H 3rd Reading:Passed 41-20-1-0-0
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
H COW:Passed
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
H04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 7-1-1-0-0
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
S 3rd Reading:Passed 23-7-1-0-0
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
S COW:Passed
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
S04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Dan Dockstader
RRepublican
Co
Andrew Byron
RRepublican
Co
Bill Landen
RRepublican
Co
McKay Erickson
RRepublican
Co
Wendy Schuler
RRepublican
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