Wyoming rules committee directs staff to draft rule limiting campaign contributions in Capitol and during session

The Wyoming Senate Rules Committee met Feb. 12 and asked staff to draft final language for a proposed rule that would bar solicitation or acceptance of campaign contributions in areas under the Senate president’s control and on days the Legislature is in session, then reconvene for a final vote.

Chairman Nethercott opened the meeting by reading a leadership statement condemning distribution of campaign contributions to legislators while measures affecting donors or their interests are pending, saying the practice ‘‘creates at minimum the appearance of impropriety’’ and risks undermining public trust. He introduced a draft labeled as Senate rule 15-9 that would prohibit ‘‘solicit, offer, deliver, accept, or receive a campaign contribution in any area under the control of the senate.’’

Senator Barlow raised technical questions about scope, asking whether spaces such as ‘‘the halls of the senate,’’ interim committee meetings, or online donations would be covered; he said, ‘‘I received an online donation this morning,’’ and asked whether that circumstance would fall under the draft. Members noted those are distinct issues and suggested narrowing or clarifying language.

Chairman Nethercott reported preliminary research indicating 28 states have either a rule or statute that restricts accepting campaign donations during session and suggested the committee should aim to prohibit both the appearance and reality of vote buying. Senator Gauroux and others pressed for clearer delineation of the geographic scope, arguing the committee should focus on areas the Senate controls rather than broadly banning outside fundraising during session.

Senator Robeson presented a two-sentence approach derived from other states’ language: a broad prohibition that would apply to ‘‘any area of the State Capitol Complex’’ at any time, paired with a second sentence banning senators from knowingly soliciting or accepting contributions by affirmative act on any day the Senate is in regular or special session. Committee members discussed whether to tie prohibited areas to Senate Rule 2-2(f), which assigns the president authority over parts of the capital set aside for the Senate.

Members also discussed enforcement: several senators said the presiding officer should have authority to remove nonlegislators who attempt to give prohibited contributions inside the Senate’s controlled spaces. Miss Thompson and staff noted Senate Rule 2-2(f) provides the president authority over certain passages and spaces of the Capitol, and the committee considered referencing that rule in the draft to clarify scope.

Rather than voting, the committee asked LSO staff to draft the revised bill language that reflects the committee’s direction and to publish it for review; Mr. Shaw volunteered to prepare the text. The committee agreed to schedule another rules committee meeting to consider the completed draft and take a final vote after additional review and potential public comment.

No formal vote on the draft rule was taken at the Feb. 12 meeting. The committee adjourned after setting the next procedural steps for drafting, review, and a future vote.