What Bills Were Approved On Wyoming's CrossOver Day?

UPDATE: Despite initially approving Senate File 116 by a vote of 17-14, Senators later switched course and voted down Senate File 116 by a margin of 19-12

Here is how the Senate originally voted on Third Reading of Senate Fill 116:

Ayes: Anderson, Boner, Case, Crago, Crum, Hutchings, Hicks, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Laursen, Love, Olsen, Pearson, Pappas, Scott, Steinmetz
Nays: Barlow, Brennan, Cooper, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Gierau, Landen, McKeown, Nethercott, Rothfuss, Salazar, Schuler, Biteman

But after a motion to reconsider the bill was approved, the Senate reversed course and voted down the measure:

Ayes: Boner, Case, Crum, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Kolb, Laursen, Love, Pearson, Scott, Steinmetz
Nays: Anderson, Barlow, Brennan, Cooper, Crago, Dockstader, Driskill, Gierau, French, Jones, Landen, Nethercott, Olsen, McKeown, Pappas, Rothfuss, Salazar, Schuler, Biteman

OrigInal Article: The Wyoming Senate gave final approval to several bills on Tuesday just in time to meet an important legislative deadline for the 2026 Budget Session.

Tuesday is the final day for bills to be approved on third and final reading in the house of origin. That means that any bills that don't win final approval in their original house are dead for this session.

Bills that are approved cross over to the State House of Representatives, hence the day being known as "Cross-Over Day."

Bill Mandating Elections For Imposing Stormwater Fees

Among the bills winning final approval and being sent on to the Wyoming House on Tuesday were the following:

Senate File 116. Would require elections before cities and towns could impose fees to fund stormwater infrastructure projects. While the bill does not single out Laramie and Cheyenne by name, it is in fact aimed at stormwater fee programs in those two communities which have proven to be deeply unpopular. Those programs have been put on hold for now in both communities.

Opponents of the legislation question whether the legislature should approve a statewide law when only two communities have proven to be "bad actors" and city leaders in both say they are willing to work with the state on the issue.

But supporters say they don't trust the city governments of Laramie and Cheyenne to not impose new stormwater fees and argue that waiting another year opens the door for that to happen.

Passed 17-14. Here is how they voted:

Senate Signs Off On Convention Of The States

Senate Joint Resolution 0005. This is the latest effort of many in the Wyoming Legislature over the years to have the state join 28 others in calling for a Convention of the States under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. A total of two-thirds of the states--or 34 states--would have to call for such a convention.

The resolution specifies that the convention would be limited to three issues: fiscal restraints on federal spending, reigning in what supporters say are abuses of power by the federal government, and setting term limits for federal officials and members of congress.

Opponents of such a convention argue that regardless of how the guidelines are written, there is no surefire way to prevent a runaway convention that would make up it's own rules and introduce other topics

For example, gun-control advocates led by states such as California and New York abolishing the Second Amendment. or progressives who want to impose political correctness in speech erasing the First Amendment ae seen as possibilities by convention opponents.

Supporters of a convention say the rules would prevent a runaway convention, and that if it did happen, the other states could simply refuse to accept items not on the agenda for consideration and declare the convention null and void,

The vote in favor of Joint Resolution 0005 was 19-12. Here is how they voted:

Ayes: Barlow, Boner, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Driskill, Hicks, Gierau, Jones, Kolb, Laursen, Nethercott, Olsen, Pappas, Schuler, Salazar, Biteman
Nays: Anderson, Dockstader, French, Hutchings, Ide, Landen, Love, McKeown, Pearson, Rothfuss, Steinmetz, Scott

Other bills winning Senate approval in time to move on to the House this session included measures dealing with creating a select committee on gaming, residential property tax revisions, and an interstate teacher mobility compact.

You can see the full list of Senate votes on Tuesday afternoon here.