Angie Bruce, director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, briefed the committee on fiscal pressures, program priorities and disease risks affecting wildlife. The agency's revenue projection for the fiscal year is roughly $106 million with about $100 million obligated; Bruce said that is down about $3.6 million from the prior year and left less margin for discretionary projects.

Nut graf: To reduce reliance on receiving over 1 million fish a year from out‑of‑state suppliers and to guard against aquatic invasive species, the Game and Fish Commission is considering expanding the Spees fish hatchery near Casper. Bruce said preliminary estimates put that expansion in a $25–30 million range and that the commission will weigh the bids and funding priorities in coming months.

Bruce also raised wildlife health concerns. On chronic wasting disease (CWD), she told the committee the agency is seeing spread across the state and localized high prevalence—citing up to 70% in sampling in the Lander area—and described ongoing work with university researchers to develop long‑term management strategies and applied research. She asked for sustained collaboration and research investment to manage CWD's long‑term impacts.

The agency highlighted accomplishments—Kemmerer wildlife crossing project (about $33M, with a $24M federal grant) and aerial sagebrush seeding after wildfire—and said it is implementing an outfitters/guide registration program required by recent legislation. Bruce said the agency will continue to pare discretionary costs (fleet, travel and commission meetings) while monitoring revenue and disease threats.

Ending: Committee members asked for more detail on CWD trends and the hatchery proposal; Bruce said the commission will provide bids and a recommendation as they become available.