CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Legislature officially reached the halfway mark of the 2025 session Feb. 10, marking a critical point in the lawmaking process. This midpoint, commonly known as “crossover,” is when bills passed by the House move to the Senate and vice versa for consideration.
Crossover is a pivotal moment in every legislative session. It serves as a test of which bills have enough support to continue advancing and which ones stall before reaching final votes. Lawmakers now face a new challenge — ensuring their bills gain traction in the opposite chamber while negotiating changes and compromises to secure passage.
With only a few weeks left in the session, legislative leaders are shifting focus toward budget discussions, policy negotiations and finalization of major proposals before the clock runs out. At this stage, some bills that cleared the House or Senate with ease may face opposition in the second chamber, leading to amendments, delays or outright rejection.
On Feb. 11, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus convened at the State Capitol to discuss its recent legislative accomplishments and outline future objectives. Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, House District 50, chaired the press conference, emphasizing the caucus’s dedication to property tax relief and women’s rights.
The caucus reported significant progress on key legislative priorities. Rep. John Bear highlighted the swift passage of five critical bills within the first eight days of the session, surpassing an initial 10-day goal. These bills include measures on election integrity, such as requiring proof of residency and U.S. citizenship to vote, which passed with votes of 51–8 and 53–6, respectively.
Additionally, legislation banning ESG — environmental, social and governance — investments of taxpayer dollars passed 44–16, and a bill prohibiting the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants was approved 45–15. A proposal offering a 50% property tax cut also passed with a 40–20 vote.
“We promised you we could have those five specific pieces of legislation out of the House of origin within the first 10 days, and we actually beat that mark. We got out of here within the first eight days,” Bear said of the Five and Dime plan.
Bear also addressed budgetary actions, noting a $235 million reduction from the governor’s proposed $350 million supplemental budget. He emphasized that these cuts aim to facilitate tax relief while ensuring full funding public education. “Education in Wyoming will be 100% funded,” Bear stated.
Upcoming Legislative Focus
Looking ahead, the caucus plans to address several Senate files, including:
- Senate File 120: (Prime Act): Extends food freedom protections to Wyoming beef producers.
- Senate File 78: Prevents unsolicited distribution of absentee ballot request forms.
- Senate File 86: Requires country-of-origin labeling on American meats.
- Senate File 96: (Wyoming Gold Act): Mandates the state to hold and invest in precious metals as a hedge against inflation.
- Senate File 196: Enhances the Second Amendment Protection Act by adding civil penalties.
