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Senate declines House amendment to CO2 enhanced oil recovery stimulus; chair rules appropriation out of order
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Summary
The Senate on March 3 failed to concur with House amendments to Senate File 17, a carbon‑dioxide enhanced oil recovery stimulus measure, after lawmakers and the chair concluded a $10 million appropriation included by the House was out of order under Senate Rule 11‑6.
The Wyoming Senate on March 3 declined to concur with House amendments to Senate File 17, a measure concerning carbon-dioxide enhanced oil recovery and related stimulus funding, after debate about whether a $10 million appropriation added by the House was germane to the bill.
Senators described the House amendment as inserting a budget appropriation that was beyond the scope of the bill. One senator said the House27s addition would allocate $10 million from funds identified in section 323a of 2024 House Bill 1 for the design and engineering of a project described as one that "burns, combusts, or gasifies" Wyoming coal; the Senate debate focused on whether that amendment was germane and constitutionally permissible under the state constitution and Senate Rule 11‑6.
Senator Rothfuss argued the budget language was outside the scope of the original bill and said the Senate should appoint a conference committee rather than concur. Senator Barlow noted the provision would carve money out of an already-specified budget line and questioned whether that line had been repealed in another bill; Senator Hyde said he opposed concurrence on principle because the measure would provide financial aid to private companies. Senator Hicks urged senators to exercise discretion in deciding germane and constitutional questions. Senator Rothfuss formally appealed under Senate Rule 11‑6 (scope of amendments). The chair ruled that the $10 million appropriation was out of order under Rule 11‑6, and the motion to concur on the House-amended form failed by roll call (12 aye, 19 no).
Why it matters: The House amendment would have dedicated $10 million for design and engineering of a coal-related project and would have inserted a specific appropriation into a bill whose title critics said did not make that appropriation germane. The chair27s ruling that the appropriation was out of order under Rule 11‑6 prevented the Senate from accepting the House changes and sent the measure toward a conference committee.
What happens next: The Senate failed to concur and requested a conference committee; conferees will meet with House appointees to negotiate the disputed appropriation and language.
