Wyoming House Modifies Proposed University Of Wyoming Cuts In Budget

The Wyoming House of Representatives on Saturday modified a proposal to cut block grant funding to the University of Wyoming by $40 million from Governor Mark Gordon's proposed budget over the next two years, opting instead for a $20 million dollar cut with the fate of another $20 million to be decided later this year.

The Wyoming Senate wrapped up work on it's version of a state biennial budget last week, but the House had to meet on Saturday to wade thorough a long list of proposed budget amendments. The two houses now need to hammer out a compromise that both can agree to,

One of the most contentious issues in the 2026 budget session has been a proposed $40 million dollar cut in block grant funding for UW over the next two years, starting in the Fiscal Year that begins on July 1 of this year. The $40 million dollar cut from Governor Mark Gordon's proposed budget was put forward by the Joint Appropriations Committee prior to the session.

The House last week rejected an amendment to the budget on second reading to restore the funding. But on third and final reading on Saturday, Rep. Steve Harshman [R-Natrona County] put forward an amendment to restore the $40 million contingent on UW conducting  "a comprehensive 8 review of its organizational structure and staffing patterns 9 across all divisions, colleges, administrative units, auxiliaries 10 and support functions."

The full $40 million would be restored if the university could identify $5 million in cuts in a report to be issued by Dec. 1 under Harshman's amendment.

But Rep. John Bear [R-Campbell County] offered an amendment to change Harshman's proposal so that only $20 million would be restored. The other $20 million in proposed cuts would be restored if the UW report identified the $5 million mandated in Harshman's amendment. House members approved Bear's amendment  by a four vote margin.

The UW Funding Debate Is Not Over

But the debate over UW funding is not over. The Senate approved the full $40 million dollar increase in funding proposed in Gov. Gordon's budget. The two sides must agree on a final budget proposal to be sent to the governor, and the university budget is likely to be one of the major sticking points between the two bodies.

A joint conference committee with representatives of both houses will try to reach a compromise bill. Both houses would have to vote in favor of the compromise before the proposed bill could be sent to Governor Gordon.

The session is slated to end on March 11, but the deadline for sending bills to the governor is Friday, March 6. If a final budget agreement can't be hammered out, the prospect of lawmakers coming back to Cheyenne for a special session of the legislature looms.