Select Committee on School Finance adopts joint committee rules, sets recalibration schedule

The Select Committee on School Finance on June 17 adopted joint committee rules and received a timetable for the committee’s recalibration of Wyoming’s school funding formula.

Cochair Cedric Heiner moved that the committee “adopt the house rules for our joint committee,” saying motions to advance legislation would require a simple majority of the joint committee. The motion received a second and, by voice vote, was carried, with the chair declaring the motion carried. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.

The Legislative Service Office (LSO) staff outlined next steps. Matthew Wilmar, senior school finance analyst at the LSO, told members the management council contracted Pikes and Associates in April 2025 to lead recalibration work. He said the committee will meet at least four times: the next meeting is scheduled for September 2025, a draft report will be presented in October, and a final bill draft is expected in January 2026 to allow time for a bill during the 2026 budget session.

Wilmar said eight professional judgment panels (P J panels) had already been held prior to the meeting — four virtual and four in-person — with a ninth panel scheduled in Casper the week of the meeting. He said Pikes and Associates will run additional panels after the September meeting to collect reaction to initial white papers and that the consultants plan a draft comprehensive report in October. Wilmar emphasized LSO’s plan to distribute materials two weeks before meetings when possible.

LSO operations administrator Tanya Heitrich and Wilmar noted that the committee’s materials had been updated to reflect the most recent panels; the updated items in the packet were highlighted in blue in the presentation materials.

Cochair Heiner and Chairman Salazar (the committee leadership) and staff repeatedly emphasized the committee’s public meetings and that public comment would be accepted during the remainder of the day and the following day.

Why it matters: the court-ordered recalibration process determines the level and structure of public school funding in Wyoming, a constitutional duty described during the meeting as required at least every five years under state law and the Campbell court decision. Adopting committee rules and agreeing a timeline is the first formal step in that multi-month process.

What’s next: consultants will present white papers in September, hold additional professional judgment panels afterward, and return to the committee in October with a draft comprehensive report. The committee expects to give final drafting instructions after the October meeting and to consider a bill draft in January.