Legislative staff propose repeal of 13 Wyoming Business Council programs; local officials urge caution

The Legislative Service Office presented a working draft on June 22 that would repeal or direct the wind‑down of 13 programs administered or supported by the Wyoming Business Council, triggering debate from lawmakers, agency staff and local officials about how to handle remaining contracts and unspent balances.

The draft: LSO staff (Tamara Revly) described draft 27LSO0042, a non‑codified bill that lists 13 programs slated for repeal on July 1, 2027, unless the legislature acts otherwise. Programs named include the state broadband funding program, a Brownfield revolving loan account, the community facilities program, a workforce housing infrastructure program and several small business and startup assistance programs (Startup Wyoming, Kickstart Wyoming, and a small‑business investment credit program). The draft directs immediate suspension of new applications and requires a October 1, 2027 report to the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee on reverted funds, remaining obligations and any outstanding encumbrances.

Why it matters: The draft would remove statutory authority for multiple targeted programs and cause unexpended, unobligated balances to revert to the general fund in some accounts; LSO staff said the broadband account contains about $12 million that would revert under the draft. That reversion and the legal process to "wind up" active programs were central concerns in testimony.

Agency and local reactions: WBC CEO Josh Derell said the council supports cleaning up obsolete or unfunded programs but asked the legislature to allow careful transitions for programs that remain operationally active or federally linked. Municipal representatives and economic development associations urged caution before elimination: Beth Blackwell (Newcastle grants & loans specialist) and Ashley Harpstreet (Wyoming Association of Municipalities and Wyoming Economic Development Association) told the committee Brownfield work and some broadband activities continue (often coordinated with DEQ or federal grants) and recommended transferring activity to the appropriate state agency rather than abrupt elimination.

Officials’ clarifying points: LSO and WBC staff said the bill’s "wind up" language was intended to conclude program activity consistently and not to frustrate existing contracts; Mr. Fuller (LSO counsel) noted the bill makes clear programs would be repealed on the target date and that the "wind‑up" term aligns with common statutory practice for ending programs. Staff and lawmakers discussed federal matching rules (IIJA/BEAD) and cautioned that federal grants often carry separate conditions; committee members said any required state match would still need legislative approval.

Budgetary implications: LSO staff identified the state broadband account as one of the larger potential reversions (reported balance roughly $12 million) because the federal BEAD/IIJA programs have carried much of the current broadband deployment activity; several lawmakers said they wanted to understand whether state funds could be used strategically to unlock additional federal or private investment rather than being reverted.

Next steps: The committee did not vote on 27LSO0042. Members scheduled additional review, including a planned joint hearing with the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee on Aug. 27–28. LSO and WBC agreed to provide additional documentation, including program invoices, success metrics and the legal/contract status of active projects.

Ending: The committee recessed for lunch after taking public comment; no final action was taken on the repeal list while LSO and WBC prepare further details for the August meeting.