Senate Concurred on Bill Authorizing Full‑Time K–3 Literacy Position in Department of Education

The Wyoming Senate moved to concur on Message 260, Senate File 14, which authorizes a full‑time literacy position in the state Department of Education to assist school districts with reading assessments and interventions.

Senator Scheler explained that House amendments removed funding for contract services (900-series contractual staff) but left the appropriation and authorization for a full‑time state employee in place. "It is the intent of the legislature that the Department of Education include this appropriation and the full‑time position authorized by this subsection in its standard budget request for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium," Scheler said, describing prior committee questions about why the position had not been included.

Senators discussed concerns about changes to the bill title and whether removing contractual funding while retaining a state position altered the statute’s meaning; sponsors said the change preserves the position and its duties, while removing external contractor funding. The chief clerk recorded concurrence as 30 yes, 1 no.

Next steps: the clerk announced the Senate’s concurrence on the House amendment. No additional procedural actions were recorded in the morning transcript.