Every proposed UW budget amendment — and how Laramie lawmakers voted on each
From athletics to diversity to fears of “foreign adversaries,” legislators took a crack at UW’s portion of the supplemental budget bill. Here’s how Albany County’s delegation voted.
As lawmakers have chipped away at this year’s supplemental budget bill, they’ve been considering alterations to the state’s biennium funding.
That includes the University of Wyoming’s roughly $500 million cut of the overall state budget. That half-billion supports education, research, athletics and more; it was awarded to UW during the 2024 Budget Session this time last year.
Heading into the 2025 General Session of the Wyoming Legislature, UW requested about $18.1 million more for a variety of individual projects and unforeseen expenses.
The governor, and then the Joint Appropriations Committee cut that request by about 85%, sending each chamber of the legislature a budget bill that carved out just $2.64 million in additional funding for the state’s only public university.
The House has now made edits to its version, while the Senate has made edits to its own. These amendments are not final. A conference committee of both representatives and senators will have to hammer out the differences between their bills.
The House did not pass any amendments to UW’s budget this year. The Senate added $500,000. If the Senate amendment is allowed to stand, that half-million will be added to the $2.64 million in supplemental requests approved by the appropriations committee, bringing UW’s total 2025 supplement to just over $3.1 million.
The University of Wyoming’s home county is represented by a total delegation of six — four representatives in the House and two senators in the Senate.
Below is a rundown of every UW-specific amendment proposed in either the House or the Senate and how legislators from UW’s backyard voted on each.
Rothfuss, Crum united in support for UW
Attempts to ban some foreign students and un-ban DEI faltered. The Senate gave UW an additional $500,000 for software development while refusing to give it $1.5 million for athletics.
Throughout two readings and five amendments, Albany County’s senators voted in tandem, supporting funding requests for the university while rejecting attempts to limit its freedoms.
Athletics Funding (2nd Reading, Amendment 1)
Amendment number: SF0001S2017
Sponsor: Albany County Sen. Gary Crum (SD-10)
Dollar amount: $1.5 million
Description: The $1.5 million in requested athletics funding would have been used to address an expected court settlement’s impact on the University of Wyoming; that settlement is the result of three high-profile lawsuits brought by former collegiate athletes against the NCAA. UW had originally requested this $1.5 million as part of its overall $18.1 million request; while Gov. Mark Gordon recommended paying it, the appropriations committee didn’t.
Final vote: 7-22 [Failed]
Supported by: Crum, Laramie Sen. Chris Rothfuss (SD-9)
Software Development (2nd Reading, Amendment 2)
Amendment number: SF0001S2018
Sponsor: Devils Tower Sen. Ogden Driskell (SD-1)
Dollar amount: $500,000
Description: This amendment gives an additional $500,000 to the University of Wyoming Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation “provided that the center develops software for the secretary of state’s office” to support online business registration and “lobbyist registration and renewal.”
Final vote: 23-6 [Passed]
Supported by: Crum, Rothfuss
Banning Foreign Students (3rd Reading, Amendment 1)
Amendment number: SF0001S3009
Sponsor: Torrington Sen. Cheri Steinmetz (SD-3)
Dollar amount: N/A
Description: This amendment would have blocked UW from using state funds to “collaborate with institutions, enroll exchange students or employ or exchange faculty and staff from countries that have been designated as foreign adversaries by the United States secretary of state.” Aside from Steinmetz, no senator spoke in the amendment’s favor; several highlighted the United States’ long history of welcoming outsiders to take part in education or research. Lander Sen. Cale Case (SD-25) mentioned Albert Einstein, while Casper Sen. Charles Scott (SD-30) spoke of UW’s Cold War-era exchange program with Saratov University in Russia.
Final vote: 7-24 [Failed]
Opposed by: Crum, Rothfuss
Foreign Contributions Report (3rd Reading, Amendment 2)
Amendment number: SF0001S3010
Sponsor: Steinmetz
Dollar amount: N/A
Description: This amendment would have required UW to produce a report for the Joint Appropriations Committee “on the receipt and expenditure of all funds received from foreign governments,” and how that money, if it exists, was spent, “with specific emphasis given to foreign adversaries as defined by the United States secretary of state.” There was no discussion on this amendment.
Final vote: 10-20 [Failed]
Opposed by: Crum, Rothfuss
Striking Anti-DEI Language (3rd Reading, Amendment 3)
Amendment number: SF0001S3011
Sponsor: Rothfuss
Dollar amount: N/A
Description: This amendment would have struck the footnote from UW’s current two-year budget regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. This would have removed the prohibition on using state funds for a DEI Office and blocked this year’s budget from banning diversity-oriented programs. Rothfuss argued there is already a bill working its way through the Senate addressing this topic. “We literally have a bill in consideration by this chamber at this point in time to talk this through that has a lot more detail,” he said. “It’s my suggestion that we eliminate this and continue the discussion through the bill — the appropriate vehicle.” His fellow senators mostly didn’t agree, but his Albany County colleague did.
Final vote: 11-20 [Failed]
Supported by: Crum, Rothfuss
Local Democrats back athletic scholarships for women
The House of Representatives voted on just one amendment to UW’s portion of the state budget. During second reading, Laramie Rep. Ken Chestek (HD-13) and Fort Washakie Rep. Ivan Posey (HD-33) each brought amendments, though Posey withdrew his proposal before it received any discussion.
On third reading, no representative pitched any amendment to the university budget.
Athletic Scholarships for Women (2nd Reading, Amendment 1)
Amendment number: HB0001H2025
Sponsor: Chestek
Dollar amount: $3 million
Description: This amendment would have raised UW’s budget by $3 million, providing funds for additional athletic scholarships for women. “We’ve heard a lot of talk in the session about protecting women and women’s sports,” Chestek said to the chamber that advanced a bill banning transgender women from collegiate athletics. “And for that reason, we would like to propose this amendment to restore $3 million for women’s athletic scholarships.” The amendment received vocal support from Laramie Rep. Karlee Provenza (HD-45), who added, “Go Cowgirls! Vote for this amendment.” Gillette Rep. John Bear (HD-31), who helped lead the Freedom Caucus charge on anti-trans legislation, opposed the amendment, urging his colleagues to support women’s sports with private donations to UW.
Final vote: 11-50 [Failed]
Supported by: Chestek, Provenza, Albany County Rep. Trey Sherwood (HD-14)
Opposed by: Albany County Rep. Ocean Andrew (HD-46)
Striking Anti-DEI Language (2nd Reading, Amendment 2)
Amendment number: HB0001H2026
Sponsor: Rep. Ivan Posey
Dollar amount: N/A
Description: As with Rothfuss’ unsuccessful amendment in the Senate, Posey’s amendment would have stuck the footnote in UW’s two-year budget targeting DEI.
Final vote: N/A [Withdrawn]