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Senate backs introduction of bill to create Wyoming Department of Homeland Security
Summary
Senate File 71 would move the Office of Homeland Security out from under the chief executive's budget into a standalone Wyoming Department of Homeland Security. Sponsor Senator Olsen said the change requires no new staff or spending; the Senate approved introduction by a two‑thirds roll call and referred the bill to the Judiciary Committee.
Senators on Feb. 10 approved introduction of Senate File 71, a bill to convert the existing Office of Homeland Security into a standalone Wyoming Department of Homeland Security.
Senator Olsen, sponsor of the measure, told the Senate the bill moves the office out from under the chief executive’s budget and establishes a department that will encompass existing assets, obligations and duties. Olsen said the change involves no new full‑time employees or additional appropriations and described the reorganization as primarily a transparency measure that will allow the agency to have its own budget in the future. "It moves that office out from under the chief executive's budget and puts it into its own department called the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security," Olsen said.
The Senate held an introduction roll‑call. The clerk recorded 22 ayes, 8 no and 1 excused; because the bill received the two‑thirds majority required for introduction, the Senate referred SF71 to Committee Number 1, Judiciary, for further consideration.
Committee review will examine statutory details for the transfer of assets and duties, any required conforming statutory language and the mechanics for future budgeting and oversight. At introduction the sponsor emphasized there are no immediate budgetary changes and framed the bill as a structural, transparency‑oriented reorganization.
