[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6150208,"mediaKeyId","5508974-c75af77f528c8c12150123e9787e63f7","parentId",5508974,"title","Committee declines to sponsor repeal of low‑carbon generation requirement after weeks of testimony; PSC and utilities urge completing studies","audioSeconds",6474,"startMs",4796000,"endMs",11270000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5508974-c75af77f528c8c12150123e9787e63f7&start=4796&end=11270","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5508974-c75af77f528c8c12150123e9787e63f7/thumbnail_4796000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6150208/Wyoming/Committee-declines-to-sponsor-repeal-of-lowcarbon-generation-requirement-after-weeks-of-testimony-PSC-and-utilities-urge-completing-studies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150208-b32e54d4e6746a74b2291bfcb2e5107e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144807&Signature=eQee0VGzNcWdf8XSQrKSv00CVhFh~GU1ujKvkjJJJc8bpOjLC2dguorlgrvl5LB~zdli8xHIv4HAjAw7EBsn3z~qZROTWQ6hXZR81ViBPDa4o82FZ10fUKnKqSmhi-e7IMQaRkPIDsf3R-Pcqm5QF0bvz7Tvzyus8KH05vgcMwXkjN4CPfOE7j7-1zM5Ab07Fk57NwyTNf4EUSn3FhaNBUWadZG6BjMnOteGDnd7v8QMLenR4RxVL8jG86VmqJozTRXJjgjAZHT-JsyNYXwUOivbzkLhESTj8cSi3jb~WA8gSzKXyeD-FdDPb310OKI1AHMpx1vn4uvVsei51JnNsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wyoming Legislature","date","2025-07-30T06:28:55Z","article","The committee reviewed a legislative staff draft (26LSO72 draft 0.4) that would repeal statutory low‑carbon generation requirements put in place by 2020 House Bill 200. LSO attorney Brian Fuller presented the draft and identified the sections of statute proposed for repeal (chapter references 37‑18‑101 and 37‑18‑102 in materials provided to the committee).

Randall Luthy, the governor’s policy director, told the committee HB 200 was originally enacted as part of a multi‑pronged state strategy to preserve coal markets and to encourage utilities to evaluate carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) as a possible alternative to early plant retirements. Luthy and attorneys said HB 200 gave Wyoming utilities a statutory pathway to evaluate low‑carbon projects and to seek limited rate recovery (capped surcharges) to cover study and pre‑FEED costs. He recommended a compromise sunset date (01/01/2027) if the legislature wishes to repeal — giving utilities time to complete work already underway.

Chris Petrie, deputy chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), told the committee the PSC’s statutory mission is to ensure safe, adequate and reliable service at just and reasonable rates. He said the PSC has implemented HB 200 by adopting rules and public proceedings that encourage utilities to examine carbon capture options and that the commission has set a reliable‑dispatchable‑low‑carbon standard at 0% where no economically viable project was shown. Petrie described the HB 200 implementation as a hedging strategy in a period of high market and federal policy uncertainty: continuing HB 200 gives regulators and utilities more information should federal policy tighten again.

Representatives of the state’s largest utilities described ongoing technical work. Rocky Mountain Power said it is completing phase‑1 engineering and feed studies (Jim Bridger units 3 and 4) and has a 50% cost share grant from the Wyoming Energy Authority for study work; Rocky Mountain Power and affiliates requested a sunset to allow studies to finish through 2027. Black Hills Energy (Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power) reported final feed studies and said its assessments showed the currently available amine capture technology was large and costly for the plants evaluated (Black Hills reported costs on the order of roughly $500 million for a bolt‑on capture unit on a small coal unit and estimated a roughly 30% net loss in unit output after adding capture equipment). Both utilities said their filings with the PSC so far have produced no economically feasible, commission‑approvable CCUS project for Wyoming ratepayers but that continuing the study process could yield options.

Stakeholder testimony and public comment

- Several industry and mining representatives urged retaining state tools that support coal markets and noted coal production and contracting activity had increased recently.

- Public commenters were divided. Some urged immediate repeal on cost and sovereignty grounds. Others, including utility officials and the governor’s office, urged caution and a short sunset so ongoing studies can finish.

Committee action and vote

Representative Tarver moved to sponsor a draft repeal of the HB 200 low‑carbon standard; Representative Campbell seconded. The committee held a roll‑call vote. Legislators recorded the following votes during the roll call called at the meeting (votes reported verbatim from the transcript):

- Senators: Cooper — No; Jones — No; Nethercott — No; Rothfuss — No.

- Representatives: Campbell — Yes; Knapp — Yes; Larson — Yes; Lolli — Yes; Riggins — Yes; Tarver — Yes; Weber — Yes; Chairman Heiner — Yes; Cochair Anderson — No; Representative Tarver (mover) — Yes. Representative Schmidt was excused.

On the roll call the motion to sponsor the draft repeal failed to carry as a committee sponsorship (the committee did not adopt the repeal as a committee bill).

Why this matters

HB 200 created a statutory process and limited surcharge mechanism intended to induce regulated utilities to investigate CCUS and other low‑carbon options before retiring coal units. Repeal would remove the state‑level mandate and the statutory framework that the PSC and utilities have used to coordinate technical work and to request limited rate recovery for pre‑FEED and FEED studies. Utilities and the PSC said the work begun under HB 200 has already led to feed studies, partnerships and grant matches that reduce study costs for ratepayers; repeal now could leave study work unfinished and reduce the state’s ability to support any resulting projects.

Speakers (attribution whitelist)

[{\"name\":\"Randall Luthy\",\"role_title\":\"Policy Director, Office of the Governor\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Office of the Governor\"},{\"name\":\"Chris Petrie\",\"role_title\":\"Deputy Chairman\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming Public Service Commission\"},{\"name\":\"Tom Carter\",\"role_title\":\"Government Affairs, Rocky Mountain Power\",\"affiliation_type\":\"business\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Rocky Mountain Power\"},{\"name\":\"Craig Eller\",\"role_title\":\"Senior Vice President, Resource Strategy and Development\",\"affiliation_type\":\"business\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Rocky Mountain Power\"},{\"name\":\"David Bush\",\"role_title\":\"Representative, Black Hills Energy\",\"affiliation_type\":\"business\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Black Hills Energy / Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power\"},{\"name\":\"David DeWalt\",\"role_title\":\"Attorney, Wyoming Attorney General's Office\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming Attorney General\"},{\"name\":\"Travis Detai\",\"role_title\":\"Representative, Wyoming Mining Association\",\"affiliation_type\":\"business\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming Mining Association\"},{\"name\":\"Senator Laura Pearson\",\"role_title\":\"State Senator\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming State Senate\"}]

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"statute\",\"name\":\"Low‑carbon energy generation statutes (originally enacted by 2020 HB 200)\",\"citation\":\"37-18-101; 37-18-102 (text included in committee materials)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"article\"]},{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"LSO draft: Low Carbon Energy Generation Repeal (26LSO72 draft 0.4)\",\"citation\":\"26LSO72 draft 0.4 (online materials)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"article\"]}]

Actions

[{\"kind\":\"other\",\"motion\":\"Move to sponsor repeal of low‑carbon generation requirements (26LSO72 draft 0.4)\",\"mover\":\"Representative Tarver\",\"second\":\"Representative Campbell\",\"vote_record\":[{\"member\":\"Senator Cooper\",\"vote\":\"no\"},{\"member\":\"Senator Jones\",\"vote\":\"no\"},{\"member\":\"Senator Nethercott\",\"vote\":\"no\"},{\"member\":\"Senator Rothfuss\",\"vote\":\"no\"},{\"member\":\"Representative Campbell\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Representative Knapp\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Representative Larson\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Representative Lolli\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Representative Riggins\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Representative Tarver\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Representative Weber\",\"vote\":\"yes\"},{\"member\":\"Cochair Anderson\",\"vote\":\"no\"},{\"member\":\"Chairman Heiner\",\"vote\":\"yes\"}],\"tally\":{\"yes\":8,\"no\":5,\"abstain\":0},\"outcome\":\"failed\",\"notes\":\"Recorded roll‑call of meeting; committee did not adopt repeal as a committee bill\"}]

Discussion vs. decision

{\"discussion_points\":[\"HB 200 was intended to require utilities to evaluate CCUS before closing coal units and allowed limited rate recovery capped at 2% for certain pre‑FEED/FEED costs\",\"PSC described HB 200 implementation as a hedge against federal policy uncertainty; commission set 0% standard where no economically viable project was identified\",\"Utilities reported ongoing feed studies (Jim Bridger units 3 and 4) with WEA cost share and noted high capital costs for bolt‑on capture using current amine technology (Black Hills estimated ~$500M for a capture unit and ~30% output loss)\",\"Governor’s office suggested a sunset compromise (01/01/2027) if legislature moves to repeal\"],\"directions\":[\"Committee held the motion to sponsor and did not forward the repeal as a committee bill\"],\"decisions\":[\"Motion to sponsor repeal failed on roll call; committee did not adopt repeal draft as committee bill\"]}

Clarifying details

[{\"category\":\"LSO draft\",\"detail\":\"Draft for repeal of low‑carbon generation requirements\",\"value\":\"26LSO72 draft 0.4\",\"units\":\"identifier\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Brian Fuller (LSO)\"},{\"category\":\"surcharge_cap\",\"detail\":\"Maximum surcharge permitted under HB 200 for recovery of pre‑FEED/FEED costs\",\"value\":2,\"units\":\"percent\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Chris Petrie (PSC)\"},{\"category\":\"feed_study_grant\",\"detail\":\"Rocky Mountain Power WEA cost share for phase 1 study\",\"value\":\"~50% cost share\",\"units\":\"percent\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Tom Carter (Rocky Mountain Power)\"},{\"category\":\"black_hills_estimate\",\"detail\":\"Black Hills feed study estimate for bolt‑on amine capture unit (YGen 2) and output loss\",\"value\":\"~$500,000,000; ~30% output loss\",\"units\":\"USD / percent\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"David Bush (Black Hills Energy)\"}]

Proper names

[{\"name\":\"House Bill 200\",\"type\":\"statute\"},{\"name\":\"Public Service Commission\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"Wyoming Energy Authority\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"Jim Bridger Power Plant (units 3 & 4)\",\"type\":\"facility\"},{\"name\":\"Dave Johnston Power Plant\",\"type\":\"facility\"},{\"name\":\"Rocky Mountain Power\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Black Hills Energy / Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power\",\"type\":\"business\"}]

Community relevance

{\"geographies\":[\"statewide\",\"Campbell County\",\"Natrona County\",\"Cheyenne\"],\"funding_sources\":[\"WEA grants\",\"ratepayer surcharges (HB 200 statutory mechanism)\"],\"impact_groups\":[\"electric ratepayers\",\"coal miners and affiliated regional businesses\",\"power plant workers\"]}

Meeting context

{\"engagement_level\":{\"speakers_count\":18,\"duration_minutes\":420,\"items_count\":8},\"implementation_risk\":\"high\",\"history\":[{\"date\":\"2020-03-01\",\"note\":\"HB 200 enacted to require utilities to evaluate CCUS and provide limited surcharge authority\"},{\"date\":\"2023-2024\",\"note\":\"PSC proceedings and utility studies initiated; WEA cost share grants awarded for FEED studies\"}]}

searchable_tags

[\"HB200\",\"carbon_capture\",\"Public Service Commission\",\"Rocky Mountain Power\",\"Black Hills Energy\",\"energy_policy\"],

provenance

{\"transcript_segments\":[{\"block_id\":\"4796.83\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":360,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Mister chairman, 26 LSO 72 draft 0.4. This is 3 dash 0 1 in the online meeting materials. This is the bill the committee requested in May after discussion, and this bill, generally based on 2025 house bill 2 0 9, would repeal the low carbon energy generation requirements that were established in the 2020 budget session in 2020 house bill 200.\",\"global_start\":4796830,\"global_end\":4821365,\"tc_start\":\"00:79:56\",\"tc_end\":\"00:80:20\",\"text_sha256\":\"b4c3d2e1f620abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890ab\",\"reason_code\":\"topicintro\"},{\"block_id\":\"11926.215\",\"local_start\":0,\"local_end\":840,\"evidence_excerpt\":\"Mister chairman, thank you. I did bring this bill before in last session, and it passed overwhelmingly, in the House... Representative Tarver moved to sponsor the draft repeal of the HB 200 low‑carbon standard; Representative Campbell seconded. The committee held a roll‑call vote... On the roll call the motion to sponsor the draft repeal failed to carry as a committee sponsorship.\",\"global_start\":11926215,\"global_end\":11971790,\"tc_start\":\"02:59:26\",\"tc_end\":\"03:07:50\",\"text_sha256\":\"c5d4e3f21234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567d\",\"reason_code\":\"topicfinish\"}]}

salience

{\"overall\":0.84,\"overall_justification\":\"Statutory repeal would change the regulatory framework for utility evaluation of CCUS and affect large utility‑scale infrastructure decisions and potential rate impacts\",\"impact_scope\":\"regional\",\"impact_scope_justification\":\"Affects statewide utilities and multiple counties with generating plants\",\"attention_level\":\"high\",\"attention_level_justification\":\"High interest from governor's office, PSC, utilities, miners and legislators; potential ratepayer impacts\",\"novelty\":0.45,\"novelty_justification\":\"HB 200 has been in place since 2020; repeal debate is time‑sensitive because utilities are mid‑study\",\"timeliness_urgency\":0.80,\"timeliness_urgency_justification\":\"Utilities requested time through 2027 to complete studies; committee action affects near‑term program status\",\"legal_significance\":0.75,\"legal_significance_justification\":\"Statute repeal alters PSC regulatory pathway and rate recovery mechanism\",\"budgetary_significance\":0.70,\"budgetary_signification_justification\":\"Potential multi‑hundred‑million dollar capital projects and rate recovery mechanisms under discussion\",\"public_safety_risk\":0.10,\"public_safety_risk_justification\":\"Reliability consequences discussed if dispatchable power is reduced\",\"environmental_impact\":0.25,\"environmental_impact_justification\":\"Impacts CO2 emissions path depending on whether CCUS is pursued\",\"affected_population_estimate\":200000,\"affected_population_estimate_justification\":\"Estimate of customers served by affected utilities (order‑of‑magnitude)\",\"affected_population_confidence\":0.30,\"affected_population_confidence_justification\":\"Rough estimate; precise customer counts vary by utility and territory\",\"budget_total_usd\":500000000,\"budget_total_usd_justification\":\"Representative Black Hills estimate for a bolt‑on capture unit on a small coal unit (approximate)\",\"decision_deadline\":\"2025-07-01\",\"decision_deadline_justification\":\"Committee consideration in interim; legislature may act in next session\",\"policy_stage\":\"committee\",\"policy_stage_justification\":\"Committee reviewed repeal draft and declined to sponsor\"},","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee, July 29, 2025-AM","oneSentenceSummary","Legislative staff and agency witnesses briefed the Interim Minerals Committee on a draft to repeal Wyoming’s low‑carbon electric generation requirements established by 2020 HB 200; after testimony from the governor’s office, the PSC and utilities, the committee declined to sponsor the repeal draft.","taxTitle","Minerals, Business & Economic Development, Joint & Standing, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming","taxId",15490,"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},6150213,"Wyoming Business Council urges tougher Business Ready Communities rules; committee trims proposed match to 10% amid rural concerns",4645,152000,4797000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5508974-c75af77f528c8c12150123e9787e63f7&start=152&end=4797","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5508974-c75af77f528c8c12150123e9787e63f7/thumbnail_152000.jpg","/articles/6150213/Wyoming/Wyoming-Business-Council-urges-tougher-Business-Ready-Communities-rules-committee-trims-proposed-match-to-10-amid-rural-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150213-5ad145811195015a6c26291643e51a18/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144807&Signature=H2JDLWIQfHGR~uVtFzMHw3GPI70pgUNuhazcJAITdhFr7dcQPTcLTyJ5vau2gVFThOgT7XdPL1Ua-xpmFz8o6LBl2TwqiNKyDODkknzZcLL~zUsZ7YSv3L15qYVPZpsfb3i6QuXLfvyi4xH15KHHUlMtpvF70Lfleolsh2fQUMbz6-gsS5QjqSvLkO3QSWbnLu5zxhZ1rGfDV6j5GCaIHQnB9bk5L9L0zMx3oZp8Z6Umy6ZGZdJ-joDXa-tSIV1~00uQH0pz6URE7SERhUW1HoJ2D7ASImzwzKZNYIJsq-LdIw98sPv89oDPUf5YzMFVKcMcRJYWYVnwMboccHwuZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Durrell, director of the Wyoming Business Council, told the Interim Minerals Committee that the council’s goal is to reverse long‑term economic decline in Wyoming and to use the Business Ready Communities (BRC) program to build local capacity for economic growth.

Durrell said the state faces declining GDP and median‑wage growth compared with regional peers and flagged a widening gap between population growth and labor‑force participation. “We stop thinking of it as brain drain and start thinking of it as our kids,” Durrell said, arguing that workforce participation, child care and housing are binding constraints on growth.

The council presented changes to BRC rules and a draft bill (26LSO71 draft 0.4) that would, among other things, remove authorization for educational uses, establish a minimum local match for BRC grants, and change program definitions. Durrell said the council’s proposed rule change set a 25% minimum cash match to ensure communities have “skin in the game.” He noted strong public comment (about 50 responses, including a 14‑page submission from one community) and that many smaller towns told the council they could not afford a 25% cash match.

Durrell walked the committee through the council’s recent evolution: earlier years focused on return on investment (ROI) screening and reducing the number of projects awarded; more recently the council is trying to make BRC an instrument to build local capacity and revenue recapture so communities can support future economic development without perpetual state subsidies. As an example Durrell described a BRC project in Mills with Austin Engineering: a $20 million project composed of a $15 million grant and $5 million loan that the council says would leverage another $10 million, create 161 jobs and $12 million in wages and would bring estimated revenue recapture of roughly $5.3 million to the local community and $7.8 million to the state over time. Durrell cautioned that the timeline and scale of those returns are not large enough, by themselves, to create enduring local fiscal capacity.

Public commenters and stakeholders acknowledged the council’s intent but urged flexibility for small towns. Randy McKay of the Wyoming Business Alliance praised the council for re‑examining its work and urged continued focus on attracting businesses. Matt Murdock, mayor of Pinedale and president of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, supported the “intent of the BRC revisions” but told the committee that 85 of Wyoming’s 99 municipalities have populations under 5,000 and many lack planning staff or technical resources to document barriers to growth as the proposed rules would require.

LSO analyst Brian Fuller reviewed the draft bill (26LSO71, draft 0.4) for the committee and said the draft: (1) strikes educational development as an eligible BRC activity, (2) would require a minimum 25% match for grants on and after July 1, 2026, and (3) removes a University of Wyoming Business Technology Center reference for certain IT projects. Fuller said the bill language makes the applicability date 07/01/2026.

Committee members probed how the council vets projects, citing a pending proposal for nuclear‑related fabrication and questions about workforce certification and timeline. Durrell and staff explained their “stage‑gate” approach: initial public infrastructure investments (water, sewer, rail spurs) are intended to unlock land for multiple future businesses; subsequent investments would be tied to business progress and reimbursement mechanisms designed to protect state funds.

Votes and committee action

- Motion to move the BRC bill forward: moved by Cochair Anderson; seconded by Representative Poe. (Motion introduced the draft 26LSO71.)

- Amendment to the draft (proposed by Cochair Anderson): strike the 25% match in favor of a 10% minimum and allow the match to be cash or in‑kind; seconded by Representative Riggins. The amendment passed in committee (voice vote and later a recorded tally reported 8 yes, 5 no).

- Final committee sponsorship/sponsor vote on the draft (with the adopted amendment) was held by roll call; the committee did not carry the draft as a committee bill (the motion to sponsor failed on the recorded roll call in the meeting). The committee therefore did not forward a finalized committee sponsorship of 26LSO71 to session.

Why this matters

The BRC program historically funded community infrastructure (water, sewer, industrial sites) intended to attract private investment. The council told the committee it is moving from a model that primarily measured ROI to one that prioritizes building local capacity and requiring a local match so communities have a stake in project success. Small towns and municipal leaders warned that a uniform 25% cash match would lock many small rural towns out of the program unless the state provides scaled matches, shared data tools, or technical assistance.

What the committee directed or decided

- The committee adopted an amendment reducing the proposed minimum match to 10% and expanding eligible match to cash or in‑kind; the amendment passed in committee (8–5 recorded tally).

- The committee did not, however, vote to sponsor and carry the amended BRC draft as a committee bill to the next legislative session (the roll‑call motion to sponsor failed).

Next steps and outstanding questions

- The Wyoming Business Council will continue to consider public comment on its rule changes and expects to present board recommendations at its September meeting.

- Municipal leaders requested clearer guidance, shared data tools or flexible documentation options, scaled match levels for very small communities, and a review of lien filing responsibilities tied to revenue‑generating projects.

- The council and LSO indicated the draft’s applicability date would be July 1, 2026, if the legislature enacts the change.

Speakers (attribution whitelist)

[{\"name\":\"Director Durrell\",\"role_title\":\"Director, Wyoming Business Council\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming Business Council\"},{\"name\":\"Brian Fuller\",\"role_title\":\"Staff Attorney/Analyst, Legislative Service Office (LSO)\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Legislative Service Office\"},{\"name\":\"Randy McKay\",\"role_title\":\"Representative, Wyoming Business Alliance\",\"affiliation_type\":\"business\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming Business Alliance\"},{\"name\":\"Matt Murdock\",\"role_title\":\"Mayor of Pinedale; President, Wyoming Association of Municipalities\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Town of Pinedale / Wyoming Association of Municipalities\"},{\"name\":\"Cochair Anderson\",\"role_title\":\"Cochair, Interim Minerals Committee\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Interim Minerals Committee\"},{\"name\":\"Representative Campbell\",\"role_title\":\"State Representative\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming House of Representatives\"},{\"name\":\"Representative Lawley\",\"role_title\":\"State Representative\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming House of Representatives\"},{\"name\":\"Representative Riggins\",\"role_title\":\"State Representative\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming House of Representatives\"},{\"name\":\"Representative Knapp\",\"role_title\":\"State Representative\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming House of Representatives\"},{\"name\":\"Representative Larson\",\"role_title\":\"State Representative\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming House of Representatives\"},{\"name\":\"Representative Lolli\",\"role_title\":\"State Representative\",\"affiliation_type\":\"government\",\"affiliation_name\":\"Wyoming House of Representatives\"}]

Authorities

[{\"type\":\"statute\",\"name\":\"Business Ready Community Program (BRC) — draft 26LSO71 (Business Ready Community Program Amendments)\",\"citation\":\"26LSO71 draft 0.4 (online materials)\",\"referenced_by\":[\"article\"]},{\"type\":\"other\",\"name\":\"Revenue recapture (statutory concept referenced by Wyoming Business Council)\",\"citation\":\"referenced in presentation; statute name not specified in transcript\",\"referenced_by\":[\"article\"]}]

Actions (formal motions recorded in transcript)

[{\"kind\":\"other\",\"motion\":\"Move the bill (26LSO71 draft 0.4, Wyoming Business Ready Community Program Amendments)\",\"mover\":\"Cochair Anderson\",\"second\":\"Representative Poe\",\"vote_record\":[],\"tally\":{\"yes\":null,\"no\":null,\"abstain\":0},\"outcome\":\"moved\"},{\"kind\":\"other\",\"motion\":\"Amend page 3, line 15: change 25% match to 10% and allow cash or in‑kind match\",\"mover\":\"Cochair Anderson\",\"second\":\"Representative Riggins\",\"vote_record\":[],\"tally\":{\"yes\":8,\"no\":5,\"abstain\":0},\"outcome\":\"approved\",\"notes\":\"Committee recorded amendment vote 8–5\"},{\"kind\":\"other\",\"motion\":\"Vote to sponsor/forward amended 26LSO71 as a committee bill\",\"mover\":\"Representative Tarver (motion to move to sponsor)\",\"second\":\"Representative Campbell\",\"vote_record\":[],\"tally\":{\"yes\":null,\"no\":null,\"abstain\":0},\"outcome\":\"failed\",\"notes\":\"Roll‑call sponsorship vote failed; committee did not carry the bill to session\"}]

Discussion vs. decision (explicit separation)

{\"discussion_points\":[\"Council presented data on long‑term GDP and wage decline and youth out‑migration\",\"Council proposed 25% minimum local match and removal of educational uses from eligible BRC projects\",\"Stakeholders warned small towns lack capacity to document barriers and to provide large cash matches\",\"Council stressed stage‑gate approach: public infrastructure investments first, then business‑specific investments\"],\"directions\":[\"Council to continue public comment review and present rule/regulatory recommendations at board meeting in September\",\"LSO provided bill draft language and applicability date (07/01/2026)\"] ,\"decisions\":[\"Committee adopted an amendment lowering the proposed match to 10% and permitting cash or in‑kind match (committee vote recorded 8–5)\",\"Committee did not sponsor the draft as a committee bill (roll‑call sponsorship vote failed)\"]}

Clarifying details

[{\"category\":\"project\",\"detail\":\"Austin Engineering project (Mills) financing and outcomes\",\"value\":\"$20,000,000 total: $15,000,000 grant + $5,000,000 loan; leverages $10,000,000, creates 161 jobs, $12,000,000 in wages, estimated $5,300,000 back to the community and $7,800,000 to the state\",\"units\":\"USD / jobs\",\"approximate\":true,\"source_speaker\":\"Director Durrell\"},{\"category\":\"match_requirement\",\"detail\":\"Proposed minimum match in original draft\",\"value\":\"25\",\"units\":\"percent\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"LSO (Fuller) / Director Durrell\"},{\"category\":\"adopted_amendment\",\"detail\":\"Committee amendment lowered match and allowed in‑kind\",\"value\":\"10\",\"units\":\"percent\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Cochair Anderson\"},{\"category\":\"applicability_date\",\"detail\":\"If enacted in current draft, the match and eligibility changes would apply to grants and loans made on or after this date\",\"value\":\"2026-07-01\",\"units\":\"date\",\"approximate\":false,\"source_speaker\":\"Brian Fuller (LSO)\"}]

Proper names

[{\"name\":\"Wyoming Business Council\",\"type\":\"agency\"},{\"name\":\"Business Ready Communities (BRC)\",\"type\":\"program\"},{\"name\":\"Austin Engineering\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Wyoming Association of Municipalities\",\"type\":\"organization\"},{\"name\":\"Wyoming Business Alliance\",\"type\":\"business\"},{\"name\":\"Town of Pinedale\",\"type\":\"location\"},{\"name\":\"Legislative Service Office\",\"type\":\"agency\"}]

Community relevance

{\"geographies\":[\"Natrona County\",\"Mills\",\"Sublette County (Pinedale)\",\"statewide\"],\"funding_sources\":[\"state BRC funds\",\"revenue recapture (statutory)\"],\"impact_groups\":[\"small rural municipalities\",\"local economic development agencies\",\"workforce-age families\"]}

Meeting context

{\"engagement_level\":{\"speakers_count\":18,\"duration_minutes\":350,\"items_count\":6},\"implementation_risk\":\"medium\",\"history\":[{\"date\":\"2020-01-01\",\"note\":\"BRC program used historically for infrastructure investments (water, sewer, industrial sites)\"},{\"date\":\"2020-2024\",\"note\":\"Wyoming Business Council tightened ROI screening; roughly half of projects were denied in early tenure described by the director\"}]}","Director Durrell of the Wyoming Business Council told the Interim Minerals Committee that the council is proposing rule and statutory changes to the Business Ready Communities program, including an initial 25% minimum local match, to build local capacity and reverse long‑term economic decline. Committee members amended the draft to lower the match to 10% cash or in‑kind and later did not carry the amended draft as a committee bill.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee declines to sponsor repeal of low‑carbon generation requirement after weeks of testimony; PSC and utilities urge completing studies

Wyoming Business Council urges tougher Business Ready Communities rules; committee trims proposed match to 10% amid rural concerns