Wyoming House debates supplemental budget: search‑and‑rescue, workforce training, property maintenance and other amendments draw votes

The Wyoming House considered numerous second‑reading amendments to House Bill 1, the supplemental appropriations bill, on Tuesday. Lawmakers debated proposals ranging from dedicated tourism dollars for search‑and‑rescue reimbursements to restoring one‑time workforce training funding, and from adding facility janitorial and trades staff to a request to fund removal and preservation of a historic survey‑party tree inscription.

Key votes and outcomes - Search‑and‑rescue funding (second‑reading amendment 1, moved by Rep. Connolly). The amendment would have directed tourism‑account dollars to the statewide search‑and‑rescue council to bolster a fund that the sponsors said risks depletion after high‑cost missions. Proponents argued volunteers and counties increasingly face high helicopter and support costs; opponents said the item was not on the supplemental request. Result: failed on roll call, 22 aye, 38 no, 2 excused.

- Wyoming Innovation Partnership (second‑reading amendment 2, moved by Rep. Chestyck). The amendment would have restored $5 million the sponsor said would complete the last phase of a workforce partnership. Opponents said the Legislature previously funded a study to evaluate program outcomes and advised waiting for that study. Result:…