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House strips $500,000 university allocation from special‑purpose bank bill
Summary
Representatives voted to remove a $500,000 appropriation to a university center for blockchain/digital asset work that had been attached to Senate File 95. The deletion passed on a roll call, 40‑19 (3 excused). Debate focused on whether the university or the executive branch should develop enterprise software for state filing systems.
Representative Lucas moved to delete a $500,000 appropriation that had been attached to Senate File 95, a bill dealing with special‑purpose depository institutions and banking. Lucas characterized the appropriation as a poor fit for the bill and described the proposed expenditure as a "science experiment" to have a university build blockchain‑based enterprise software that the affected state business agency had not requested.
Supporters of removing the appropriation argued for competitive procurement and said the executive office that runs business filings preferred not to have the work built through the university. Representative Bair emphasized the importance of competitive bidding for enterprise software. Representative Lucas argued the appropriation was not part of the underlying bill and should be removed.
Opponents urged keeping the funding in place to allow in‑state research and control. Representative Singh and others argued the appropriation would maintain Wyoming’s position in emerging digital asset infrastructure and cheaper development by in‑state partners. Representative Feiler and Representative Wiley also opposed deleting the appropriation, saying the university produced useful technology and the state should retain control of such development.
On the roll call, the House adopted Lucas’s amendment to delete the appropriation by a vote of 40‑19, with 3 excused. The bill was then ordered to third reading.
Ending: The House removed the $500,000 university appropriation from the bill; supporters of the original appropriation signaled intent to pursue state digital asset and filing modernization through other means.
