🚧 Government & Politics | Cowboy State Daily

Wyoming Superintendent Of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder says she hopes President Trump eliminates the U.S. Dept of Education. States should determine their own rules for federal funding, she said.

Degenfelder Hopes Trump Will Eliminate U.S. Dept Of Education

Wyoming Superintendent Of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that she hopes President Trump eliminates the U.S. Dept of Education. States should determine their own rules for federal funding, she said.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 05, 2025

State Rep. Cody Wylie, R-Rock Springs, has proposed significant changes to Wyoming's license plate rules.

Wyoming License Plates Would Be Mailed, Not Redone Every 8 Years Under Proposal

State legislators are considering a bill that would not require a redesign of license plates every eight years. That means you can keep your plates until they wear out. Also, people would get them via mail, not their county treasurers.

Renée JeanFebruary 05, 2025

Hageman Supports Trump’s Crackdown On “Insidious Organization” USAID

Rep. Harriet Hageman says she supports President Trump’s crackdown to cut the fund for the U.S. Agency for International Development. She calls USAID an “insidious organization” that has supported terrorism.

Sean BarryFebruary 05, 2025

Capt. David Janes of the Cheyenne Police Department testifies about Senate File 196, which would have prohibited state agencies from enforcing federal gun laws that clash with Wyoming's.

Dueling Gun Groups Strike Truce To Push Wyoming Second Amendment Rights Bill

A pair of gun rights groups in Wyoming that have feuded over state Second Amendment legislation have struck a brief truce. Gun Owners of America and Wyoming Gun Owners are both pushing a bill that would ban state officials from enforcing federal gun laws.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 05, 2025

The Wyoming Senate passed a property tax bill Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, that at a 50% cut would be the largest in state history. Opponents say not providing money to replace that revenue will devastate communities, while supporters say it’s a true tax cut.

Senate Passes 50% Property Tax Cut, Would Be Largest In Wyoming History

The Wyoming Senate passed a property tax bill Tuesday that at a 50% cut would be the largest in state history. Opponents say not providing money to replace that revenue will devastate communities, while supporters say it’s a true tax cut.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025

“Threw Me Under The Bus”: Park County Clerk Says Rep. Wrong About 2020 Ballots

The Park County Clerk says state Rep. Ken Pendergraft “threw me under the bus” last week when he told a legislative committee she “prematurely” destroyed 2020 election ballots. The clerk was legally allowed to, but he says he stands by the accusation.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025

House Majority Floor Leader Scott Heiner, R-Green River.

Cowboy State Daily Conversations With Legislative Leaders: Scott Heiner

VIDEO: Cowboy State Daily's State Politics Reporter Leo Wolfson catches up with Majority Floor Leader Scott Heiner, R-Green River, to learn more about what got him into politics and his vision for the future of the House under the Wyoming Freedom Caucus majority.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025

Bill Banning Suspicious Drones Over Critical Wyoming Infrastructure Advances

The Wyoming Senate is considering a bill criminalizing drone operators from loitering and photographing over critical infrastructure. A legislative committee voted unanimously Tuesday to send the bill to the Senate floor.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2025

Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 15

The 15th day of the Wyoming Legislature saw extended debate on many controversial topics like sex books in school libraries and transgender sports bans.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025

Semitrucks cross the Peace Bridge at the U.S.-Canada border in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. After Canada agreed to implement border security measures, President Donald Trump paused his proposed tariffs for 30 days.

Tariff Trade War On Hold With Mexico, Canada; Wyoming Lawmakers Declare Victory

Monday was a tumultuous day for the stock market, but Trump walked away with some big concessions from Canada and Mexico — just as Wyoming lawmakers predicted he would.

Renée JeanFebruary 04, 2025

Wyoming’s wide-open spaces are one of the greatest things that fishing guides have to offer their clients — but there’s concerned about out-of-state guides without permits crowding Wyoming’s waters.

In Brief: Bill To Regulate Out-Of-State Fishing Passes House

A bill intended to prevent Wyoming’s prized fishing waters from being mobbed by out-of-state guides passed the Wyoming House on Monday and is headed for the Senate.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025

Shooting Complex Budget Swells To $19.5M, Including $3.5M More From State

The anticipated budget for a “world-class” shooting complex near Cody, Wyoming, is up from $10 million to $19.5 million, including another $3.5 million from the state.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025

The Senate Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee didn't advance Sen. Cheri Steinmetz's "Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again" bill.

Legislative Committee Kills “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” Bill

Fearing it could actually lead to more federal regulation, a Wyoming Senate committee killed the “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” bill. It would have cut low-carbon energy standards in the state and treated CO2 as a nutrient, not a pollutant.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025

Wyomingites Could Concealed Carry In All 50 States Under Bills Trump Favors

Wyomingites might be able to carry concealed firearms in all 50 states, if Trump-backed legislation passes Congress. A pair of bills making their way through Congress would make concealed carry permits valid in all states.

Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025

Montana GOP Pushes To Display Ten Commandments At Public Schools

Debate is heating up in the Montana Legislature over a bill that would require putting the Ten Commandments in every classroom in the state. Republicans are pushing the bill, while Native Americans want to include the “Indian Ten Commandments.”

David MadisonFebruary 03, 2025

State Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, left, and Sen. Mike Yin, D-Jackson.

Two Proposed Wyoming Transgender Sports Bans Advance In State House

The Wyoming House on Monday sent a proposed transgender sports ban to the state Senate. It would expand the current law from seventh to 12th grades, to kindergarten through college. Another similar bill focusing just on college also advanced.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2025

Wyoming’s senior senator told Fox News on Sunday that he’s impressed with the breakneck speed President Trump’s administration is moving. John Barrasso also said he’s confident FRK “has the votes” to be confirmed to head Health and Human Services.

Barrasso Hopeful RFK Has The Votes As Nailbiter Cabinet Votes Set

Sen. John Barrasso told Fox News on Sunday that he’s impressed with the breakneck speed President Trump’s administration is moving. He also said he hopeful RFK has the votes to be confirmed to head Health and Human Services.

Sean BarryFebruary 03, 2025

Arp Elementary School in Cheyenne sits vacant and crumbling after being deemed unfit to house students anymore after it was found to be infested with vermin and sewage.

Proposed Change To School Construction Would Mean Locals Passing Bonds

The Senate Education Committee advanced a constitutional resolution Monday that would change how schools get built in Wyoming. It would make all public school building projects require locals to approve and fund them through bonds.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 03, 2025

Campbell County Library District board member Sage Bear, top, tesitifies in favor of an obscenity bill Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. Anita Marple, Fremont County Library System director, bottom, testifies against it.

Bill Banning Access To Sex Books For Minors In Wyoming Back With A Vengeance

Librarians and educators on Monday testified against a bill that seeks to toughen Wyoming’s crimes against exposing minors to obscenity, and to remove protections that keep librarians and teachers from being charged with the crime.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 03, 2025

Internal Poll Shows Hageman With Huge Lead In Potential Governor's Race

If Rep. Harriet Hageman decides to run for governor of Wyoming in 2026, she’d be the overwhelming favorite, according to a national political polling firm. A polling memo says she has a 30-plus point lead over any other candidates.

Jimmy OrrFebruary 03, 2025

Amber Smith, a forensic analyst at the Wyoming State Crime Lab in Cheyenne, demonstrates how this Hamilton aparatus works in this file photo. It can process nearly 90 individual DNA samples at a time.

Bill Would Open Post-Conviction DNA Testing To More Wyoming Felons

A bill is moving through the Wyoming Legislature to give access to post-conviction DNA testing to more Wyoming felons. The measure was headed to the Senate floor Monday.

Jen KocherFebruary 03, 2025

Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 14

The 14th day of the Wyoming Legislature on Friday featured Congresswoman Harriet Hageman telling legislators it’s been an “incredibly exciting” time on Capitol Hill. Also, a debate is raging over whether judges in the state should be elected.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 01, 2025

U.S. Rep. Hariett Hageman, R-Wyoming, addresses Wyoming legislators from the floor of the state House at the Capitol in Cheyenne on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

Hageman Tells Legislature It’s An “Incredibly Exciting” Time To Be On Capitol Hill

Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman spoke to Wyoming legislators Friday at the Capitol in Cheyenne. She described President Donald Trump’s first two weeks in office as an “incredibly exciting” time on Capitol Hill.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 01, 2025

A handful of Wyoming Republican lawmakers are asking the state’s judges and justices run for election, which hasn’t happened for 52 years. Lawyers hate the ideas, while proponents said it would force more transparency on judges.

Lawmakers Push To Make Wyoming Judges Run For Election

A handful of Wyoming Republican lawmakers are asking the state’s judges and justices run for election, which hasn’t happened for 52 years. Many lawyers hate the idea, while proponents say it would force more transparency on judges.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 01, 2025

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