Senate restores portions of governor's budget in 'big beautiful amendment,' advances Senate File 1 with multiple votes

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Senate on Feb. 17 advanced the general government appropriations bill (Senate File 1) after adopting a suite of second‑reading amendments that shift the chamber back toward the governor's recommended funding levels and set the stage for final changes on third reading.

Senator Cheri Driscoll, the amendment's sponsor, called the package the "BBA, the beautiful amendment," saying it "takes us back to the governor's track" and restores funding the Senate's appropriators had trimmed. The amendment was adopted on a roll call of 20 ayes and 11 nos.

Why it matters: The amendments change the Senate's starting point for negotiations with the House and the governor and restore funds the Appropriations Committee had reduced in its initial package. Sponsors described the approach as giving the Senate a clear position to defend in interchamber conference and in third reading.

Major floor actions and outcomes

- Amendment 1 (the BBA): Moved by Senator Driscoll to align the Senate with more of the governor's recommendations; adopted 20–11. Driscoll said the amendment gives the Senate a clear policy posture for third reading and later conference committee.

- Amendment 2 (Search and Rescue funding): Proposed $800,000 over the biennium for the Search and Rescue Council and distributed through the Office of Homeland Security; failed on recorded vote (2–29).

- Amendment 6 (litigation fund clarification): Added language clarifying that a $5 million litigation account item is intended for Colorado River Basin litigation-related purposes; adopted by voice vote as a technical clarification.

- Amendment 8 (State Parks spending authority): Allowed State Parks to use existing budget authority for archeological work on human remains within the budgeted amount; adopted by voice vote.

- Amendment 10 (technical clarification where a bill duplicates a budget item): Adopted on roll call, 28–3.

- Amendment 11 (sign-language interpreters): Added $75,000 to Family Services for sign-language interpretation; adopted on roll call, 30–1.

- Amendment 14 (conditional appropriation to Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Program): Would have appropriated $30 million conditionally if a judicial stay is lifted; failed 12–19.

- Amendment 17 (Wyoming State Shooting Complex transfers): Released previously appropriated funds from dedicated accounts and reverted a specified sum to the general fund; adopted 20–11.

Senators on both sides pressed for detail: Senator Steinmetz asked sponsors to quantify general‑fund, federal, and other funds effects of the BBA; Senator Larson and others pressed for documentation on existing account balances before releasing any previously appropriated funds. Senator Driscoll and backers said the net change from GovRec was roughly $3 million above the governor's recommendation and that the amendment focused funding on four main areas (technology, employee salary adjustments, University of Wyoming restoration, and targeted business council adjustments) to be resolved further on third reading.

What's next: With the Senate's position now set by these adopted amendments, third reading and the opportunity for additional amendments will determine the final Senate posture before conference with the House. The chamber also suspended a rule to extend the deadline for submitting third‑reading amendments on the budget bill to the later of 5 p.m. or the end of second reading.

Ending: The Senate recessed for lunch after completing the second‑reading sequence and announcements of committee meetings and referrals.