Wyoming Governor Signs Property Tax Cut, Vetoes DEI Defunding Bill

Governor Mark Gordon has signed off on a 25 percent property tax reduction for residential properties worth up to $1 million.

He has also vetoed a bill that would defund diversity, equity and inclusion--or DEI-programs in Wyoming

You can read Senate File 69, the property tax cut bill, here.

The bill has no sunset date, and a requirement that the property is occupied at least 8 months out of the year will take effect in year 2.

The bill was a compromise between the Senate and House versions of a property tax cut. Both houses had originally passed a 50 percent cut. But the houses could not agree on whether to reimburse--or backfill--local governments. The House wanted to backfill local governments for 50 percent of lost revenues.

The original version of Senate file 69 included a 50 percent backfill as well. But that was taken out in the Senate, and that house was determined to make a stand on that issue.

So negotiators for the two houses hammered out a compromise 25 percent property tax cut. That way the impact on local governments from lost revenues would be the same as if the House version of the bill had become law, but the Senate could get it's way on not backfilling local governments from other revenue sources.

Gordon had the following comments on the DEI bill, Senate File 103 saying it introduces ill-defined and overly broad restrictions, creates significant legal ambiguities, and risks unintended consequences that could negatively impact Wyoming’s higher education institutions and workforce development.”

However, the governor has signed another bill targeting DEI programs, House Bill 147, the Prohibition of Institutional Discrimination bill.

The governor also signed several other bills into law, as well as vetoing two others and exercising a line-item veto on one bill

Bills Signed And Vetoed By Governor Mark Gordon On Tuesday

Enrolled Act Bill # Bill Title

HEA0050 HB0311 Exemption for transported fuel and power sales-amendments.

HEA0051 HB0018 Career technical education funding.

HEA0052 HB0199 Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act.

HEA0053 HB0122 Senior citizen service districts-authorization and renewal.

HEA0054 HB0090 Anthrax outbreak protocol.

HEA0067 HB0147 Prohibition of institutional discrimination.

SEA0060 SF0069 Homeowner property tax exemption.

The Governor exercised his veto authority on the following bills. Click on the bill for a link to the Governor’s letter:

HEA0055 HB0079 Bond elections-voter threshold requirement.

SEA0059 SF0127 Administrative rules-legislative review.

SEA0061 SF0103 Terminating and defunding diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Governor exercised his line-item veto authority on the following bill

HEA0056 HB0117 Omnibus water bill-construction.

The full text of all bills can be found on the Wyoming Legislature’s website. A list of bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2025 Legislative Session can be found on the Governor's website.