State Legislature enacts new laws for K12 school facilities and major maintenance funding

The Wyoming Legislature's Select Committee on School Facilities convened on May 30, 2025, to review significant legislative changes impacting K-12 school facilities. Key highlights included the enactment of two pivotal bills aimed at enhancing school facility leasing and maintenance funding.

Ashley Phillips, legislative editor, presented a summary of the laws passed during the 2025 session. Notably, Chapter 89 modifies lease reimbursements for school facilities, ensuring they are capped at the lesser of the total lease amount or a calculated average cost per square foot. This change aims to streamline financial support for schools leasing facilities.

Another critical piece of legislation, Chapter 145, addresses maintenance funding. It raises the allowable square footage for maintenance calculations from 115% to 135% of adequacy standards for the 2025-2026 school year and increases the cost replacement formula multiplier from 2% to 2.5%. This chapter also allocates $38.1 million for major maintenance payments, reflecting a significant investment in the upkeep of school facilities.

Additionally, Chapter 118 appropriates nearly $30 million for various construction projects, including a new high school and a transportation facility in Kimball. This funding is crucial for addressing the growing needs of Wyoming's educational infrastructure.

While the committee celebrated these advancements, they also noted two bills that did not pass: House Bill 21, which aimed to adjust routine maintenance calculations, and House Bill 142, which sought supplemental appropriations for school facilities. The committee expressed a commitment to revisit these issues during the upcoming recalibration efforts.

The meeting underscored the legislature's ongoing dedication to improving educational facilities across Wyoming, with a focus on ensuring that schools are adequately funded and maintained to support student learning. As the state moves forward, the anticipated outcomes from these legislative changes are expected to enhance the quality and safety of school environments for students and educators alike.