The Budget Session begins on February 9, 2026 and adjourns on March 11, 2026.
Every year, the Wyoming Legislature meets to introduce, discuss, and pass legislation. In even years, like 2026, the Legislature will convene in a Budget Session. Wyoming operates on a biennium (two-year) budget cycle. The Governor submits to the legislature a proposed budget in even-numbered years for the upcoming two fiscal years. The legislature will then debate, adjust, and eventually pass a final budget bill throughout the session. Because the Wyoming state budget bill is the primary legislative focus during even years, introduction of additional bills requires a 2/3 vote, rather than the simple majority required in the General Session (odd years).
Resources
During the Budget Session, it is valuable to be aware of the guidance given by our Wyoming State Constitution, such as:
Article 1, Section 19 - Appropriations for sectarian or religious societies or institutions prohibited.
No money of the state shall ever be given or appropriated to any sectarian or religious society or institution.
Article 3, Section 34 - General appropriation bills; other appropriations.
The general appropriation bills shall embrace nothing but appropriations for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the state, interest on the public debt, and for public schools. All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject.
Article 3, Section 35 - Money expended only on appropriation.
Except for interest on public debt, money shall be paid out of the treasury only on appropriations made by the legislature, and in no case otherwise than upon warrant drawn by the proper officer in pursuance of law.
Article 3, Section 36 - Prohibited appropriations.
No appropriation shall be made for charitable, industrial, educational or benevolent purposes to any person, corporation or community not under the absolute control of the state, nor to any denominational or sectarian institution or association.
Article 4, Section 9 - Veto of items of appropriations.
The governor shall have power to disapprove of any item or items or part or parts of any bill making appropriations of money or property embracing distinct items, and the part or parts of the bill approved shall be the law, and the item or items and part or parts disapproved shall be void unless enacted in the following manner: If the legislature be in session he shall transmit to the house in which the bill originated a copy of the item or items or part or parts thereof disapproved, together with his objections thereto, and the items or parts objected to shall be separately reconsidered, and each item or part shall then take the same course as is prescribed for the passage of bills over the executive veto.
At the Equality State Policy Center, we aim to ensure Wyoming citizens are empowered to engage in shaping the laws that affect their daily lives, their neighbors, their communities, and the services offered by the State of Wyoming now and into the future. This includes our state highways, our workforce services, our energy authority, our business council, our state museum, our school foundation program, our various state boards and commissions, our top five elected officials and their departments, and YES even our elected representatives and senators...and more. The State of Wyoming employees over 15,000 people. Walmart employees over 5000 people in Wyoming. University of Wyoming employs nearly 7000 people.
Beyond casting a vote, it is the role of the public - we the people - to ensure that elected officials serve the public's best interest. Help let them know where your interests and values are by participating in the legislative session: testify in a committee, call/email/text your representative and senator - let them know what you think about the policy that impact our state's future.
