The Legislative Education Committee on Wednesday introduced 25LSO0096, a committee bill to increase funding in the state education resource block grant for career and technical education (CTE) equipment and supplies, and included a $350,000 appropriation to the Department of Education for the increase.

The bill draft would amend multiple school finance statutes to change the formula used to determine the per‑FTE funding and to set a minimum payment for schools that report fewer than two CTE teacher FTEs. Tanya Heitrich, legislative service office, told the committee the draft “restores the funding for career technical education equipment and supplies to pre‑2005 levels” and fixes several statutory cross‑references.

The measure would change language in the education block grant and in attachment A tied to the formula; the draft sets a per‑CTE teacher floor described in the memo as “the greater of $9,428.77 per FTE career and technical education teacher or $18,857.57 for equipment and supplies,” and makes conforming terminology changes from “vocational education” to “career technical education.” The bill’s proposed effective date is July 1, 2025.

Why it matters: Committee members said the proposal aims to help small‑school programs that face high per‑student costs for equipment — for example, welding or machining tools that cost the same regardless of class size — and to boost CTE access statewide. Supporters that testified said the change would help small schools stand up programs and train more students for local jobs.

How it would work: Matt Wilmarth, senior school finance analyst, explained the bill attempts to replicate, in the current education resource block rate model, the prior approach that provided a minimum funding amount for small programs. Using 2022–23 data, he said 29 of 79 reporting schools would receive added funding under the draft. Wilmarth said the bill’s appropriation of $350,000 is an estimate to “buttress” the initial payments and that a fiscal note would refine cost estimates if the bill moves forward.

Concerns and discussion: Several committee members pressed whether the extra block‑grant money would actually be spent on CTE. “If we pass this money, what is the probability that the money will in fact be spent on CTE as opposed to being diverted to other uses?” Chairman Scott asked. Wanda Maloney of the Wyoming Department of Education said districts decide how to expend block‑grant funds and that the department could not guarantee how a district would spend the additional money; she recommended hearing from local districts about their spending choices.

Representatives of the Wyoming Association for Career and Technical Education and the Wyoming Association of School Administrators told the committee smaller and mid‑sized schools generally need more up‑front funding because start‑up costs are large and per‑student costs are higher in small classes. Jesse Dafoe, Wyoming Association for Career and Technical Education, said a laser cutter or welder costs the same for 5 students or 25 students and the draft “equalizes the funding for our small and medium sized schools.”

Several members suggested ways to add accountability without stripping local control: Senator Steinmetz and others said they would favor amendments to require reporting on how additional funds are used, or to make the funds a categorical (restricted) grant, though committee members also noted the tradeoffs between local control and restrictions. Representative Vann proposed instead converting the increase to a targeted grant outside the block grant; committee members noted the state already has categorical CTE grant statutes and that the next bill on the agenda addresses grant consolidation.

Committee action: After discussion, a motion to introduce 25LSO0096 as a committee bill passed on roll call. The roll call as recorded in the transcript shows the committee approved the bill: 10 ayes, 1 no, and 3 excused. On the roll call Senator Steinmetz voted No; the transcript lists the following members voting Aye: Senator Beitman, Senator Brennan, Senator Rothfuss, Representative Allred, Representative Andrew, Representative Berger, Representative Lolli, Representative Provenza, Co‑chair Northrop and Chairman Scott; Representative Brown, Representative Obermueller and Representative Clauston were listed as excused.

Details to watch: The draft leaves the increase as part of the education block grant (districts would receive additional foundation program funds) rather than a categorical restriction. The Department of Education and legislative staff said the bill does not change the block‑grant spending rules; districts would retain discretion over whether to spend the added dollars on CTE unless the legislature later imposes reporting or spending restrictions.