Senate authorizes Department to spend $10 million for Wyoming State Shooting Complex; accelerates bill through same-day readings

Senate File 198 passed the Wyoming Senate on March 4, 2025, after senators voted to accelerate the bill through second and third reading on the same day and approved final passage.

Sponsor Senator Fred (Rothfuss) said the measure simply removes a statutory condition imposed in 2023 that required ‘‘additional action of the legislature’’ before a previously appropriated $10,000,000 could be spent. ‘‘This bill does nothing more than strike that language … and insert the language by the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources so that the language then reads shall only be expended by the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources for the siting and construction of the Wyoming State Shooting Complex,’’ Senator Rothfuss said on the floor.

The bill drew procedural objections from some members who opposed quick-tracking. ‘‘I rise reluctantly,’’ said Senator Case during debate on acceleration. ‘‘This is not the Wyoming legislature. … I urge your no vote.’’ Despite the objection, the suspension to accelerate the bill passed and the measure moved through Committee of the Whole and back to the floor.

Why it matters: The 2023 session law had set aside $10 million for the shooting complex but required a later legislative action to allow expenditure. SF198 removes that additional-legislature requirement and instead authorizes the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to expend the money for siting and construction. Supporters said the change is necessary to avoid multi-year delays to a project ready to proceed; opponents argued the legislature should retain the final say on spending that was previously held in reserve.

Key debate and votes: Senators debated both the merits of enabling the department to proceed and the procedure used to move the bill rapidly through the chamber. After the Committee of the Whole recommended passage, the Senate approved final passage on third reading. The motion to suspend rules and accelerate the bill received the two‑thirds threshold and placed the bill on second reading; the Senate later passed SF198 on third reading. Final third‑reading tally: Senate file 198 passed the Senate on third reading with 20 ayes and 7 noes (voice roll as recorded at 10:47 p.m.).

Process notes and next steps: Because SF198 modifies a prior session-law restriction rather than creating a new appropriation, supporters framed it as a legislative clean-up to allow a previously authorized project to begin. The Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources will now be authorized to expend the $10,000,000 appropriation ‘‘for the siting and construction of the Wyoming State Shooting Complex’’ without returning to the Legislature for an additional spending vote, per the enacted language.

Related references: The bill removes language in the 2023 session laws tied to the earlier appropriation and replaces it with departmental expenditure authority. Senator Rothfuss described the change as a targeted, limited statutory edit to enable immediate project steps.

Ending: The bill’s passage clears a statutory hurdle for the shooting complex project. Opponents who objected to the same‑day acceleration signaled continued concern about rapid procedures; supporters said they moved to remove a procedural barrier that had stalled a funded project.