Senate concurs on ‘fairness in sports’ bill; rejects concurrence on two major tax and investment measures

CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Senate on March 4 voted to concur with House amendments to Senate File 44, known as the Fairness in Sports (intercollegiate athletics) bill, but rejected concurrence requests for Senate File 153, a change to residential real property taxable value, and Senate File 169, a repeal affecting the Strategic Investments and Projects Account.

The decisions follow extended floor debate about how the bills would be enforced and how much local school districts and counties would lose in revenue if the changes take effect.

Senator Michael Schueller, sponsor on the Senate side for the sports bill, framed the measure as focused on competition at the collegiate level. “This bill is really just about whether or not we want to allow males to compete with females at the collegiate level,” Senator Schueller said on the floor. Senator Chris Rothfuss questioned logistical enforcement of the bill’s new definitions, saying he did not see how schools would implement them: “I don’t think any of us could prove today that either that we are female or male pursuant to these definitions.” Despite those concerns, the Senate recorded concurrence on Senate File 44 by roll call.

Senate File 44 outcome: The Senate concurred with the House amendments on Senate File 44 (Fairness in Sports). The roll…