Appropriations committee closes governor—s supplemental budget after hours of amendments; several units split votes

The Appropriations Committee met for a multi-hour markup and voted to close the governor—s supplemental budget as amended, concluding with a roll-call close vote that passed 12-0 with one excused recorded as present for quorum.

The committee—s work mixed unanimous routine approvals of agency units with sharper debate and divided votes on larger policy and program items. Lawmakers moved line-by-line through agency units, accepting some governor recommendations, trimming others and inserting new footnotes or restrictions.

Why it matters: The supplemental package reallocates or affirms funding for hazard mitigation, emergency response, natural resources work, interstate water efforts and several administrative accounts. Several contested votes reflect differing views on the scope of state spending for strategic initiatives and the conditions under which federal funds may be accepted.

The committee approved smaller agency units largely by roll call. Agency 001Unit 0601 (Emergency Response) and Unit 1106 (Disaster Contingency) were approved on roll calls with strong support. Several higher-dollar or policy-sensitive items drew debate:

- Wyoming Innovative Partnership (Unit 3601): The committee voted to deny the governor—s $5.2 million recommendation for the Wyoming Innovative Partnership (WIP) and to add language requiring a future efficiency study. The motion to reduce the request to $0 and require a study passed on roll call (8 ayes, 3 noes, 1 excused).

- Natural Resources Core Industries (Unit 3701): Members debated amendments to change the funding…