Wyoming

Wyoming Property-Sales Tax Swap Barely Passes After Drama-Filled House Debate

Published

2 years ago

February 24, 2024

Wyoming Property-Sales Tax Swap Barely Passes After Drama-Filled House Debate

Who would’ve thought President George Washington, former Gov. Stanley Hathaway, women’s suffrage and American patriotism could all have roles in the escalating debate over Wyoming property tax relief?

Some state legislators who support House Bill 203 believe so, bringing up these historical examples during an emotional, nearly 90-minute debate Friday on Republican Rep. Steve Harshman’s plan that would immediately remove property taxes for 97% of Wyoming residents and replace the lost revenue with a 2% jump in the state sales tax.

After that debate, HB 203 passed its first reading in the House by a razor-thin 31-29 margin. The bill has truly split the room, with Democrats, Wyoming Caucus Republicans and social-conservative Wyoming Freedom Caucus Republicans all voting for and against it.

American History And ‘Anguish’

Many of those arguing in support of the bill leaned on patriotic themes and historical references to convince their colleagues.

Some of those who spoke against the bill like Reps. Reuben Tarver, R-Gillette, Ken Pendergraft, R-Sheridan, and Liz Storer, D-Jackson, said it’s being rolled out too fast.

Tarver said businesses in northern Wyoming could be negatively impacted by the sales tax increase as customers could become more likely to travel across the border to buy products in Montana where there is no sales tax.

Harshman, R-Casper, the lead sponsor of the bill, wound his way all back to the American Revolution and Wyoming’s founding. He argued that those who say the proposal should be studied more over the upcoming interim session before implementing a measure that would cut property tax revenue by $459 million by the time it’s fully running aren’t as courageous as Washington.

“He didn’t stick his toe in the Delaware (River) and say, ‘It’s too cold, I’m going to study it,’” Harshman said.

Rep. Cyrus Western, R-Big Horn, was possibly even more colorful in his advocacy for the bill, which would make Wyoming the only state with almost no residential property taxes for most property owners. Although he admitted the bill isn’t perfect, he urged legislators to consider what it symbolizes.

“When I look up into the Wyoming night sky, I see no indication that a higher force will come and save us from ourselves,” he said. “The thought of a Wyoming future that is handcuffed, unable to bring about our best selves and achieve what we are fully capable of, is one that overwhelms my soul with anguish.”

Dropping The Bomb

After Harshman brought up Wyoming suffrage, Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, who later voted in support of the bill, decided she had heard enough hyperbole.

“Mr. Chairman, we’re debating a bill, not receiving a history lesson on the State Capitol,” she said.

After Harshman was finished, Rep. Barry Crago, R-Buffalo, asked if anyone else wanted to give a history lesson, to which the body offered a definitive “no.”

The phrase “nuclear bomb” also was used to describe the bill in both positive and negative terms.

Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, drew a comparison to food when describing his growing appreciation for the bill.

“It’s kind of an acquired taste, and pretty soon it tastes pretty darn good,” he said.

But after more than an hour of candid discussion, the body language around the House floor grew visibly weary, with many slumped shoulders and furrowed brows. It was likely the result of a long-winded discussion capping off an already long second week of the budget session.

After an initial hand count vote resulted in a 29-29 tie, a second vote was taken by roll call. After all the votes were tallied for a second time, Reps. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, and JT Larson, R-Rock Springs, changed their “nay” votes to “aye.”

Mineral Concerns

One of the biggest points of opposition to the bill is the sheer size of its impact and the many questions that remain unanswered about how well it will work. A major issue is how it will affect people in Wyoming who aren’t homeowners. These people won’t get the benefit of having to not pay a property tax, but would have to pay more sales tax on everything they buy.

Rep. Clark Stith, R-Rock Springs, expressed concern that the tax refund offered to mineral companies through HB 203 won’t come back around because local taxes will be raised higher than current levels.

Along with the property tax cut, a tax refund program using leftover money for anyone who pays both severance taxes and sales or use taxes in Wyoming also will be offered.

“Because there’s not enough money to go around, this refund to the minerals industry won’t happen,” he said.

Mountain View Republican Rep. Jon Conrad, who works in the trona industry, expressed concerns that it will cause cash-flow problems for energy companies while waiting for their refund checks.

Stith also said the bill could allow special districts to raise their mill levy tax rates on taxpayers without repercussion because it would no longer be their taxpayers paying for them.

“It’s something called the principle of using other people’s money,” he said. “What keeps a lid on taxes is the landowners have to pay it themselves.”

Harshman described this as a straw man argument since most special districts are already taxing the maximum available rate.

“I really appreciate you bringing that strawman, I hope you lit on fire and he’s burning right here,” he said.

An amendment was successfully added to the bill on Friday clarifying that oil and gas pipeline companies operating in Wyoming can qualify for the refund.

Advances — Barely

That HB 203 struggled to find a majority of support at this early stage isn’t a positive sign for its chances of passing into law. The legislation still must get through two more readings in the House before it can move on to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, said he plans to bring an amendment on second reading that would add a three-year sunset date for the legislation. An amendment brought by Rep. Dave Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, setting back the start for the bill to 2025, failed.

Leo Wolfson can be reached at Leo@CowboyStateDaily.com.

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Wyoming

Wyoming Coaches Pick the Best of 1A & 2A Boys Basketball in 2026

Published

9 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Coaches Pick the Best of 1A & 2A Boys Basketball in 2026

The top boys’ basketball players in Wyoming for Classes 1A and 2A were chosen for the 2026 high school season. The Wyoming Coaches Association has unveiled the all-state awards for this year, as voted on by the head coaches in the two classifications, respectively. The Wyoming Coaches Association only recognizes one team for all-state, and only these players receive an award certificate from the WCA. WyoPreps only lists all-state players as defined by the WCA.

WCA 1A-2A BOYS BASKETBALL ALL-STATE SELECTIONS IN 2026

Each class selected 14 players for all-state, reflecting a broad recognition of talent across Wyoming. Notably, congratulations go to Hulett’s Kyle Smith, Brady Cook from Lingle-Fort Laramie, and Carsten Freeburg from Pine Bluffs, who earned all-state honors for the third straight year. In addition, eight more players achieved all-state status for the second time in their prep careers.

Class 1A

Paul McNiven – Burlington

Bitner Philpott – Burlington

Ammon Hatch – Cokeville (All-State in 2025)

Hudson Himmerich – Cokeville

Kyle Smith – Hulett (All-State 2024 & 2025)

Anthony Arnusch – Lingle-Ft. Laramie

Brady Cook – Lingle-Ft. Laramie (All-State 2024 & 2025)

Tymber Cozzens – Little Snake River (All-State in 2025)

Corbin Matthews – Lusk

Max Potas – Meeteetse (All-State in 2024)

Jace Westring – Saratoga

Hazen Williams – Saratoga

TJ Moats – Southeast (All-State in 2024)

Nic Schiller – Upton

Read More Boys Basketball News from WyoPreps

WyoPreps 1A-2A State Basketball Scoreboard 2026

WyoPreps 3A-4A Regional Basketball Scoreboard 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Final Basketball Poll 2026

1A-2A Boys Basketball Regional Scoreboard 2026

WyoPreps Boys Basketball Week 11 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-25-26

WyoPreps Boys Basketball Week 10 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-18-26

WyoPreps Boys Basketball Week 9 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-11-26

WyoPreps Boys Basketball Week 8 Scores 2026

WyoPreps Coaches and Media Basketball Polls 2-4-26

Class 2A

Caleb Adsit – Big Horn

Chase Garber – Big Horn

Carsten Freeburg – Pine Bluffs (All-State 2024 & 2025)

Mason Moss – Rocky Mountain

Oakley Hicks – Shoshoni

Kade Mills – Sundance

Cody Bomengen – Thermopolis (All-State in 2025)

Zak Hastie – Thermopolis

Ellis Webber – Thermopolis (All-State in 2025)

Joseph Kimbrell – Wright

Mitchell Strohschein – Wright (All-State in 2025)

Adriano Brown – Wyoming Indian

Heeyei’Niitou Monroe-Black – Wyoming Indian (All-State in 2025)

Cordell Spoonhunter – Wyoming Indian

The 2026 state champions were the Saratoga Panthers in Class 1A. They beat Lingle-Fort Laramie, 50-45, in the championship game. The 2A winners were the Thermopolis Bobcats, who repeated as champions, after a 45-38 victory over Wyoming Indian in the title game.

Lusk versus Rock River high school basketball 2026

Game action between the Tigers and Longhorns

Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Lisa Shaw

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Wyoming

New laws establish a statewide literacy program

Published

22 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

New laws establish a statewide literacy program

A pair of bills signed into law last week aim to build out a more comprehensive system of literacy education across Wyoming’s public schools.

One mandates evidence-based practices and requires regular screenings for dyslexia, while the other enables the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to hire a dedicated literacy professional to oversee statewide compliance.

Gov. Mark Gordon’s signing of both bills on Friday was the latest accomplishment of an ongoing push for improved literacy standards. That push has been spearheaded by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.

“Wyoming is not going to let a single child fall through the cracks,” Degenfelder said during a public bill signing last week. “We are not going to fall behind when it comes to ensuring that our children can read at grade level.”

The primary bill, Senate File 59, establishes a statewide K-12 program for teaching students to read that is built on “evidence based language and literacy instruction, assessment, intervention and professional development that supports educators, engages families and promotes literacy proficiency for all Wyoming students.”

The bill defines evidence-based strategies as those that conform to the science of reading, a term that will be defined and updated by Degenfelder’s office. Nationwide, it generally means putting academic research into practice in classrooms. SF 59 specifically prohibits the exclusive use of “three-cueing” — a strategy once widely employed to teach reading but which education experts now say is outdated and less effective than other strategies.

It also requires annual dyslexia screeners for students below the third grade, and testing for reading difficulties for all students.

The screeners are used to identify the severity of reading difficulties in order to direct “tiered” support that offers the most intensive interventions to the students most in need, while still providing “evidence based” language instruction to all students.

Each school district must formulate an individualized reading plan “for each student identified as having reading difficulties or at risk for poor reading outcomes.”

Districts must now report to the state annually regarding their literacy-related work. Any district where 60% or more of the students are struggling will be required to implement “summer literacy camps or extended supports, including after school support and tutoring.”

The bill also requires literacy related professional development for teachers and specialists “appropriate to their role and level of responsibility” related to literacy education.

SF 59 was backed by dyslexia advocates and literacy specialists.

Senate File 14, the other literacy bill signed into law Friday, appropriates $120,000 annually for the next two years for a full-time position at WDE “to assist school districts in implementing a reading assessment and intervention program and language and literacy programs.”

Both bills go into effect July 1.

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Wyoming

Wyoming Announces 2026 Football Schedule – SweetwaterNOW

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Announces 2026 Football Schedule

Samuel “Tote” Harris. Photo from gowyo.com

LARAMIE — The University of Wyoming and the Mountain West Conference announced the Cowboys’ 2026 football schedule Monday, a slate that opens with the Border War and concludes with back-to-back home games in Laramie.

Wyoming opens the season Sept. 5 on the road against Colorado State in the 118th edition of the Border War. The Cowboys then host Northern Colorado on Sept. 12 in the home opener before traveling to Central Michigan on Sept. 19.

The Cowboys begin Mountain West play Sept. 26 at home against Hawaii in a matchup for the Paniolo Trophy. Wyoming then faces back-to-back road games at North Dakota State on Oct. 3 and San Jose State on Oct. 10.

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Wyoming returns to War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17 to host conference newcomer Northern Illinois before facing Air Force at home on Oct. 24. The Cowboys will have an open week on Oct. 31.

The Cowboys open November with road games at UNLV on Nov. 7 and at UTEP on Nov. 14, marking Wyoming’s first meeting with the Miners as members of the Mountain West. Wyoming closes conference play by hosting New Mexico on Nov. 21 and wraps up the regular season with a nonconference game against UConn on Nov. 28 in Laramie.

Each Mountain West team will play four home and four road conference games during the 13-week season, which will conclude with the Mountain West Football Championship Game featuring the two teams with the highest conference winning percentages. The championship game date will be announced later.

With the conference schedule set, Mountain West television partners CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and The CW will begin selecting broadcast games, which could include moving some contests to non-Saturday dates. Network assignments and kickoff times will be announced at a later date.

Season ticket renewals for the 2026 Wyoming football season are now available. Fans can renew their tickets online by visiting gowyo.com/tickets and logging into their account.

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