[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6744362,"mediaKeyId","5342423-c1872d76c5751697565da4682b65ff24","parentId",5342423,"title","Committee orders subpoenas for local officials after repeated audit findings; directs LSO to request performance audit of LSO","audioSeconds",4420,"startMs",3617601,"endMs",8038560,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342423-c1872d76c5751697565da4682b65ff24&start=3617&end=8038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342423-c1872d76c5751697565da4682b65ff24/thumbnail_3617601.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6744362/Wyoming/Committee-orders-subpoenas-for-local-officials-after-repeated-audit-findings-directs-LSO-to-request-performance-audit-of-LSO","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744362-0c3bc7056a840ba69a8798a186d00bef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770699493&Signature=hDAtVvwKj1wFOSfWISSVYPIcAkqBdXuuh6aJy0i0K8YBkQ3Ia0H8msZp075JWJyCGYN9jRNaBKWAzdfL4AUYi6HgD0Xma~~-BKorX6brU6rPWrX6umxbgyq9oxDoxMfUooi-E4ve1cdn8UV5khDXopLij2PjcD7x2KtHj0gJN5rcNxd-jzoGUW-1tMDsAcFJH8ub5U8OCTljL90m43iCdr6Y-2VUshuDRWWC7e4~-nTRw59Y8BJAYn4F9tingnriIC-ti7JtFilqWUkU32CAbqqMaNKzp4nERZaciLluQw8ND~KePLsPagzH-p-tFZImjtsJJyW6wtoyp8tAp2CEgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-07-10T00:53:04.637Z","article","The Management Audit Committee on July 9 voted to subpoena officials from several local entities after Department of Audit staff described cases in which audit findings remained unresolved over multiple years.

Justin Chavis, director of the Department of Audit, and Rich Cummings, administrator for the Public Funds Division, told the committee their office issues reports showing repeated deficiencies in internal controls, segregation of duties and financial reporting in some small towns and special districts. \"We give them a few years because, sometimes what ends up happening is depending on the issuance of our audit, we have to give them time to develop that's fixes,\" Cummings said when asked about follow-up timelines.

The committee voted to subpoena the Riverton Recreation District No. 25 and the Fremont County Clerk; it also subpoenaed the mayor, clerk and treasurer of the Town of Bear River and the mayor, clerk and treasurer of the Town of Manderson to appear before the committee to explain unresolved audit findings. The subpoenas followed public testimony and Department of Audit reports that identified multiple outstanding findings in recent audits of those local governments.

Department of Audit staff emphasized limited enforcement authority. \"Statutorily, there really isn't a specific requirement in terms of how regularly we go back and conduct an audit of a particular entity,\" Director Chavis said. He and Cummings explained the office can increase monitoring, require more frequent reporting and label entities high-risk for future audits, but that withholding funds is limited by statute to late census reporting and that criminal referrals require evidence of criminal conduct.

Separately, committee members debated oversight of the Legislative Service Office. After extended discussion about who audits the auditors and where auditing authority should reside, the committee voted in roll call 9-2 to direct the Legislative Service Office to request that the Department of Audit perform a performance audit of LSO (motion sponsor: Senator Smith). Committee members also approved a separate request to draft legislation that would move the Public Funds Division (local-government audit function) under LSO for committee consideration.

The committee's actions are procedural tools to compel testimony and obtain more information. Department of Audit staff said they will provide the requested historical audit records for the named entities and coordinate follow-up work; LSO will be asked to send the formal request for a performance audit of the LSO to the Department of Audit.

Provenance: Department of Audit presentation and follow-up discussion begin at 01:00:20 in the transcript (public-funds division testimony). The roll call directing LSO to request an audit of LSO begins at 01:31:40 with Senator Smith's motion and the roll call recorded at 01:42:38.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Management Audit Committee, July 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Management Audit Committee voted to subpoena several local officials and ordered further review after Department of Audit staff detailed repeated unresolved audit findings in small local governments.","taxTitle","Management Audit Committee, Joint & Standing, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",21035,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6744366,"Wyoming committee weighs major changes to Senate File 127 on rule review; proposes narrower thresholds and agency responsibilities",3097,136975,3234660,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342423-c1872d76c5751697565da4682b65ff24&start=136&end=3234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342423-c1872d76c5751697565da4682b65ff24/thumbnail_136975.jpg","/articles/6744366/Wyoming/Wyoming-committee-weighs-major-changes-to-Senate-File-127-on-rule-review-proposes-narrower-thresholds-and-agency-responsibilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744366-dd322978313b63b336508b86883f811d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770699493&Signature=QPg4uOANx-A62eqZjDQR1p0EqPRfsp4-irERT04s127F1siBmja3hGfa5D~bKbBoaPMJOclf7b9pcG8fAvw4Gjzi3HInFjyEWAEgVD08Ai9323aUNyaf52j7Lz3ml~n5Can-qj6QewwvaujC66bMnVswux3R~kJiwMmcpx43O9Qz1Ouyz5ZboEz-S0li39cvSJ6uqHG7jCac3u~Qkg9VZEXZDf3YdJnlSC8vzplxlWu2ubU-dJysHjZQSMy60wtCQ4mHsom2fW7efCND1VUb5BXBPIWJgirmSRfQ8oazuMVJmLEps-XkaNClJT5-NsDC8i-q~HTk9WFEwN7UMB7Z5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Management Audit Committee on July 9 reviewed research and a working bill draft proposing changes to Senate File 127, the 2024 law that expanded legislative review of administrative rules. LSO staff and management auditors discussed options including a lower economic threshold for \"major rules,\" exemptions for emergency and federally mandated rules, and shifting some regulatory impact analysis work to agencies.

\"There are a total of 8 states that have a program or an approach to approval of administrative rules similar to what the state of Wyoming did with Senate file 127 in this last session,\" said Matt Petrie, an administrator assigned to the committee's research effort. He told members Florida and Kansas provided the clearest models on staff needs, thresholds and committee review procedures.

The presentation and committee discussion focused on five amendment options included in a working draft (26 LSO 106 working draft 0.4): remove the requirement that \"major rules\" be designated by management council; change the measurable economic threshold; exempt emergency rules (and possibly federally mandated rules) from major-rule review; require agencies to prepare a statement of estimated regulatory costs; and specify a committee or process for legislative review of a regulatory economic analysis.

LSO staff described state comparisons. Kansas and Florida were highlighted for having standing review bodies and staffing devoted to regulatory impact work. Petrie said the practical result of other states' laws is that agencies often prepare an economic impact statement and the legislature has a committee available to review major rules outside of the regular session schedule.

On thresholds, the working draft would change Senate File 127's $1,000,000 test to a $200,000-per-year standard, a level committee staff said aligns with how some comparators measure implementation and compliance costs. \"If we stuck with that $200,000 threshold, we would be using a threshold that was similar to both Florida and Kansas,\" Petrie said.

Members debated whether emergency rules should be exempted. Staff noted emergency rules are commonly adopted to meet a statutory July 1 implementation date, are generally mirror images of the later permanent rules, and are time-limited (statutory emergency rules can be effective for short periods). \"It's a bit redundant to do [the regulatory impact analysis] on those emergency rules, but also the timing \u0015120 days of emergency rules plus extensions\u00151 means there's little time to conclude an analysis before they expire,\" Mr. Anderson of LSO told the committee.

A key policy choice was who performs the initial regulatory economic work. Under current law, LSO would complete a regulatory impact analysis of each major rule; in many other states the proposing agency prepares the initial economic analysis and LSO or a legislative committee then reviews it. \"The benefit to having agency involvement on the front end is that it eliminates those rules that LSO would not have to look at to even determine whether it approaches that threshold,\" Petrie said.

Members asked about separation-of-powers concerns and timelines if rules required legislative approval before becoming effective. LSO counsel warned courts in some jurisdictions have invalidated legislative vetoes over rules on separation-of-powers grounds and that any change to the governor's role would require careful drafting. The committee also discussed options to preserve timely implementation (delaying effective dates, temporarily extending emergency rules, or a case-by-case statutory exception for time‑sensitive rules).

Committee staff highlighted staffing and budget implications. The bill as drafted appropriates $400,000 for two positions to staff regulatory impact work; staff recommended three positions would better match the workload implied by a lower $200,000 threshold.

What happens next: committee members asked LSO to refine the draft with clearer measurable criteria and options on exemptions and timelines. LSO's draft and the committee's questions will guide any recommendation the Management Audit Committee forwards to management council before the December 1 deadline set in SF127.

Provenance: First discussion of the research and background appears in the transcript at 00:02:13 where Mr. Petrie summarizes the cross-state research; discussion of the working draft and threshold language continues through the committee's review at 00:22:45 and later exchanges. Evidence spans include the staff presentation and the bill-draft walkthrough referenced throughout the record.","The Management Audit Committee on July 9 reviewed research and a working bill draft proposing changes to Senate File 127, the 2024 law that expanded legislative review of administrative rules.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6744358,"Secretary of State flags \"false\" post-election audit in Weston County, urges further review",236,6596470,6832830,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5342423-c1872d76c5751697565da4682b65ff24&start=6596&end=6832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5342423-c1872d76c5751697565da4682b65ff24/thumbnail_6596470.jpg","/articles/6744358/Wyoming/Secretary-of-State-flags-false-post-election-audit-in-Weston-County-urges-further-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6744358-84a9a154ea45d15651671415401ee212/orig.mp4?Expires=1770699493&Signature=B3IQxrRZOJglBOQpjngkwKUboU79RYVNHp50LxQO7AZS~ZsACAToygxfTeYC1IJLDOc9HGwhFwBZRhjc02nUiJ~3uV5i7OsA8UgrtHFJbPqBKsbO6zAz48v25n5AXdIADlEuLgHRvDkTSEo7IHr~4fA4E4a6RUurb4Lm47Mq9d73V87-VEz9WU1rztyfyN6~alibv9Q2kUzsU1BBw0FTyGrXTa7CB8hl9YzqcYhVHhjlL4GLN4d3Thy1HmmlaL6L51af~t8YDPtHxvhYkPwJuRcLgoHDNbCL6d6neirx3AGKVIN4oOSx~EvfDBaKWnPS48JAMj92Vqdg4-4LFb7XrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary of State Chuck Gray told the Management Audit Committee on July 9 that his office's independent investigation into the Weston County 2024 general election identified multiple problems, and that the most serious was what the office described as a false post-election audit submitted by the county clerk.

Gray said the initial election errors (ballot misalignment and incorrect tabulation) were serious but that the office's recommendation for removal centered on the subsequent post‑election audit submission. \"The most important problem we highlighted and the problem that guided our recommendation for removal was the Western County Clerk's submittal of a false post election audit report on November 6,\" Gray told the committee.

Gray's office found that the county clerk's first post-election audit, which by statute is meant to compare a sample of ballot images against cast-vote records, did not reflect the alignment error that was later revealed by a hand count at the canvass. Gray said the clerk denied irregularities in phone contact shortly after the election and that the secretary's office 's attempts to obtain a full explanation were not answered.

The secretary of state's investigation concluded that either the clerk performed an audit and then falsely reported no errors, or no valid audit was performed. The office forwarded its finding and recommended removal under W.S. 18-3-902; Governor Gordon declined to initiate the removal process. Gray told the committee the governor's decision did not address the false audit question in his declination letter.

Gray provided the committee with the investigation report and related exhibits. He urged the committee to consider those materials and indicated his office would cooperate with any further legislative review.

Provenance: Secretary of State Gray presented the investigation and findings beginning at 01:49:40 in the transcript; his statement and the investigation report are included in meeting materials.","The secretary of state told the Management Audit Committee the office found the Weston County clerk submitted a post-election audit that the office determined to be false and recommended removal proceedings, which the governor declined to pursue.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee orders subpoenas for local officials after repeated audit findings; directs LSO to request performance audit of LSO

Wyoming committee weighs major changes to Senate File 127 on rule review; proposes narrower thresholds and agency responsibilities

Secretary of State flags "false" post-election audit in Weston County, urges further review