Wyoming State Senate

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Wyoming State Senate
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Republican
Session start:   February 12, 2024
Session end:   March 8, 2024
Term length:   4 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Legislature-dominant
Salary:   $150/day
+ per diem
Members
Total:  31
Democrats:  2
Republicans:  29
Other:  0
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
President:   Ogden Driskill (R)
Maj. Leader:   Larry S. Hicks (Wyoming) (R)
Min. Leader:   Chris Rothfuss (D)
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Next election:  November 5, 2024

The Wyoming State Senate is the upper chamber of the Wyoming State Legislature. Alongside the Wyoming House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Wyoming state government and works alongside the governor of Wyoming to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Wyoming State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Wyoming State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

  • Sixteen[1] seats in the chamber were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Republican supermajority increased from 28-2 to 29-2.
  • A total of 15 seats out of the chamber's 30 seats were up for election in 2020. The chamber's Republican supermajority increased from 27-3 to 28-2.
  • Wyoming has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

  • This page contains the following information on the Wyoming State Senate.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Wyoming State Senate as of January 2024:

    Party As of January 2024
         Democratic Party 2
         Republican Party 29
         Other 0
         Vacancies 0
    Total 31

    Members

    Leadership

    Wyoming does not have the office of lieutenant governor, so the president of the Senate is selected from the membership.[2]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Wyoming State Senate District 1 Ogden Driskill Republican 2011
    Wyoming State Senate District 2 Brian Boner Republican April 10, 2015
    Wyoming State Senate District 3 Cheri Steinmetz Republican January 7, 2019
    Wyoming State Senate District 4 Tara Nethercott Republican January 2, 2017
    Wyoming State Senate District 5 Lynn Hutchings Republican January 7, 2019
    Wyoming State Senate District 6 Anthony Bouchard Republican January 2, 2017
    Wyoming State Senate District 7 Stephan Pappas Republican January 5, 2015
    Wyoming State Senate District 8 Affie Ellis Republican January 2, 2017
    Wyoming State Senate District 9 Chris Rothfuss Democratic 2011
    Wyoming State Senate District 10 Dan Furphy Republican January 4, 2021
    Wyoming State Senate District 11 Larry S. Hicks Republican 2011
    Wyoming State Senate District 12 John Kolb Republican January 4, 2021
    Wyoming State Senate District 13 Stacy Jones Republican January 2, 2023
    Wyoming State Senate District 14 Fred Baldwin Republican January 2, 2017
    Wyoming State Senate District 15 Wendy Davis Schuler Republican January 7, 2019
    Wyoming State Senate District 16 Dan Dockstader Republican 2009
    Wyoming State Senate District 17 Mike Gierau Democratic January 7, 2019
    Wyoming State Senate District 18 Tim French Republican January 4, 2021
    Wyoming State Senate District 19 Dan Laursen Republican January 2, 2023
    Wyoming State Senate District 20 Edward Cooper Republican January 4, 2021
    Wyoming State Senate District 21 Bo Biteman Republican January 7, 2019
    Wyoming State Senate District 22 Dave Kinskey Republican 2014
    Wyoming State Senate District 23 Eric Barlow Republican January 2, 2023
    Wyoming State Senate District 24 Troy McKeown Republican January 4, 2021
    Wyoming State Senate District 25 Cale Case Republican 1999
    Wyoming State Senate District 26 Tim Salazar Republican January 4, 2021
    Wyoming State Senate District 27 Bill Landen Republican 2007
    Wyoming State Senate District 28 James Anderson Republican January 7, 2013
    Wyoming State Senate District 29 Robert Ide Republican December 6, 2022
    Wyoming State Senate District 30 Charles Scott Republican 1983
    Wyoming State Senate District 31 Evie Brennan Republican January 2, 2023


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $150/day$109/day

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Wyoming legislators assume office the first Monday in January in odd-numbered years.[3]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    Section 2 of Article 3 of the Wyoming Constitution states, "No person shall be a senator who has not attained the age of twenty-five years, or a representative who has not attained the age of twenty-one years, and who is not a citizen of the United States and of this state and who has not, for at least twelve months next preceding his election resided within the county or district in which he was elected."[4]

    Historical party control

    Republicans won control of the Wyoming State Senate in 1976. In 2022, they won a 29-2 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Wyoming Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. As a result of redistricting following the 2020 census, the chamber increased from 30 to 31 members. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Wyoming State Senate election results: 1992-2022

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
    Democrats 10 10 9 10 10 10 7 7 7 4 4 4 3 3 2 2
    Republicans 20 20 21 20 20 20 23 23 23 26 26 26 27 27 28 29

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Wyoming was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: None
    • Republican trifecta: 1995-2002, 2011-2023
    • Divided government: 1992-1994, 2003-2010

    Wyoming Party Control: 1992-2024
    No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-two years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    Senate R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    House R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Wyoming state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Wyoming holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2024

    See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2024

    Elections for the Wyoming State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is August 20, 2024. The filing deadline is May 31, 2024.

    2022

    See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2022

    Elections for the Wyoming State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 16, 2022. The filing deadline was May 27, 2022.

    In the 2022 elections, Republicans gained the new seat that was added to the chamber due to redistricting, increasing their majority from 28-2 to 29-2.

    Wyoming State Senate
    Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
         Democratic Party 2 2
         Republican Party 28 29
    Total 30 31

    2020

    See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2020

    Elections for the office of Wyoming State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 18, 2020. The filing deadline was May 29, 2020.

    In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Wyoming State Senate from 27-3 to 28-2.

    Wyoming State Senate
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 3 2
         Republican Party 27 28
    Total 30 30

    2018

    See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2018

    Elections for the Wyoming State Senate took place in 2018. The closed primary election took place on August 21, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline for major party candidates was June 1, 2018.[5]

    In the 2018 elections, there was no change to the partisan balance of the Wyoming State Senate.

    Wyoming State Senate
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 3 3
         Republican Party 27 27
    Total 30 30

    2016

    See also: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2016

    Elections for the Wyoming State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 16, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 27, 2016.

    A total of 15 seats out of the 30 seats in the Wyoming State Senate were up for election in 2016.

    Heading into the election, Republicans held a 26-4 majority. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 27-3 majority.

    Wyoming State Senate
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 4 3
         Republican Party 26 27
    Total 30 30

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Wyoming State Legislature, the board of county commissioners representing the vacant district must select a replacement. The meeting to pick the candidates should take place no later than 15 days after the state central committee is notified of the vacancy. The state central committee of the political party that last held the seat must submit a list of three candidates to the board of county commissioners. Within five days of receiving the list of three candidates, the board of county commissioners shall appoint one of the candidates to fill the vacancy.[12]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Wyoming Const. Art. 3, Sec. 51 and Wyoming Stat., §22-18-111(a)(iii)

    District map

    See also: Wyoming state legislative districts

    The state of Wyoming has 31 state Senate districts. Each district elects one senator.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Wyoming

    Wyoming is home to one at-large congressional district, making congressional redistricting unnecessary. State legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. State legislative district plans are subject to veto by the governor.[13]

    In 2011, a joint legislative committee adopted the following guidelines for state legislative redistricting:[13]

    1. Districts should be contiguous and compact.
    2. Districts should "reflect a community of interest."
    3. Districts should "consider significant geographic features."
    4. "A majority of the population of each county" should reside within a single district.
    5. "Consideration should be given to nesting two House districts in each state Senate district."

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Wyoming after the 2020 census

    On March 25, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) allowed the state’s legislative maps to become law without signing the redistricting bill approved by the legislature. The legislature approved Wyoming HB100 on March 11. The bill added one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats to the state legislature. The Senate passed legislative redistricting plans, voting 20-10 to approve an amended version of the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee's proposal.[14] The House rejected maps approved by the Senate in a 46-11 vote on March 8. Legislative leaders formed a committee of three representatives and three senators to resolve disputes over the proposals.[15] On March 11, the House passed the maps in a 44-12 vote, and the Senate passed the maps in a 17-12 vote.[16]

    District map after 2020 redistricting

    This map took effect for Wyoming's 2022 legislative elections.

    WY Sen map 2022.jpg

    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Wyoming after the 2010 census

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wyoming's population increased from just under 494,000 to over 563,000 from 2000 to 2010.[17] This increase of 14.5 percent was higher than the national average, but Wyoming still had less people than the average size for one Congressional district.[18]

    The Joint Interim Committee on Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions decided to keep single-member districts and the current configuration of 30 members in the Senate and 60 members in the House. Only 34 of the 90 old House and Senate districts were within the accepted five percent margin of error from the ideal population, suggesting that many districts would have to be reshuffled.[19] After having public hearings, the Committee adopted a complete map in December of 2011, and gave it final approval in January of 2012. The Senate and the House both passed the final map by wide margins (28-2 in the Senate and 51-8 in the House) and Governor Matt Mead (R) signed the map into law on March 6, 2012.[20][21]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Wyoming State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Wyoming by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Wyoming legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on February 12, 2024, and adjourn on March 8, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Wyoming legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 10, 2023, and adjourn on March 3, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Wyoming

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[28] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Article III of the Wyoming Constitution establishes when the Wyoming State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Sections 6 and 7 of Article III contain the relevant provisions. The Legislature is to convene in regular session for no more than sixty legislative working days every two years, and no more than forty legislative days in any year. In odd-numbered years, the Legislature meets for a general and budget session, beginning on the second Tuesday of January. In even-numbered years, the Legislature meets for a session devoted to budgetary matters.

    Section 7 of Article III contains the provisions for convening special sessions of the Legislature. Special sessions can be convened by the proclamation of the Governor of Wyoming, or the Legislature can convene a special session of up to twenty legislative days if the session is requested by a majority of the members of each legislative house.

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-Republican Party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Wyoming are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 42 of the 62 members in the Wyoming House of Representatives and 21 of the 31 members in the Wyoming State Senate. Wyoming is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    Authority: Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

    "Every bill which has passed the legislature shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor. If he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it with his objections to the house in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at large upon the journal and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members elected agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if it be approved by two-thirds of the members elected, it shall become a law; but in all such cases the vote of both houses shall be determined by the yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered upon the journal of each house respectively."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Wyoming state budget and finances
    Wyoming on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    BudgetsCivil libertiesEducationElectionsEnergyEnvironmentHealthcarePensions

    The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[29]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June.
    2. State agencies submit their budget requests in August.
    3. Agency hearings are held September through November.
    4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Wyoming State Legislature by the third Monday in November.
    5. The Wyoming State Legislature adopts a budget in March. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
    6. The biennial budget cycle begins July 1.


    Wyoming is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[29]

    In Wyoming, the governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget. In addition, the legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.[29]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Wyoming state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Wyoming State Senate has 13 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Wyoming Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article 20 of the Wyoming Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Wyoming

    The Wyoming Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Wyoming requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A two-thirds vote is required during one legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 42 votes in the Wyoming House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Wyoming State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

    Convention

    See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

    According to Section 3 of Article 20 of the Wyoming Constitution, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Wyoming State Legislature to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. If a simple majority of voters approve the question, then the legislature needs to call for a convention during its next session.



    2025 measures:

    See also: 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

    No measures to list

    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

    See also: Wyoming 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
    Wyoming Property Tax on Residential Property and Owner-Occupied Primary Residences AmendmentDemocratsRepublicans
    Senate:Required: 21Yes votes: 22 (70.97%)No votes: 8 (25.81%)Yes: 2; No: 0Yes: 20; No: 8
    House:Required: 42Yes votes: 53 (85.48%)No votes: 9 (14.52%)Yes: 5; No: 0Yes: 48; No: 9


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

    No measures to list

    See also

    Elections Wyoming State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Wyoming State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. One new seat was added to the Wyoming State Senate during the redistricting process.
    2. Wyoming Legislature, "About the Legislature," accessed February 16, 2021
    3. Justia, "2020 Wyoming Statutes Title 22 - Elections Chapter 2 - General Provisions Section 22-2-107 - When Elected State and County Officers Assume Offices.," accessed November 4, 2021
    4. Wyoming Constitution, "Article 3, Section 2," accessed February 9, 2023
    5. Wyoming Secretary of State, "2018 Key Election Dates," accessed June 2, 2017
    6. Follow the Money, "Wyoming Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed June 10, 2014
    7. Follow the Money, "Wyoming 2008 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
    8. Follow the Money, "Wyoming 2006 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
    9. Follow the Money, "Wyoming 2004 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
    10. Follow the Money, "Wyoming 2002 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
    11. Follow the Money, "Wyoming 2000 Candidates," accessed August 14, 2013
    12. Wyoming Legislature, "Wyoming Election Code," accessed February 16, 2021 (Statute 22-18-111 (iii)-(A))
    13. 13.0 13.1 All About Redistricting, "Wyoming," accessed April 28, 2015
    14. Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Senate sends 60-30 redistricting plan back to House," March 3, 2022
    15. Casper Star-Tribune, "Wyoming House votes down redistricting map, triggers joint committee," March 8, 2022
    16. Wyoming Legislature, "HB0100 - Redistricting of the legislature.," accessed March 29, 2022
    17. U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Wyoming Profile," accessed June 10, 2014
    18. U.S. Census Bureau, "Congressional Apportionment," November 2011
    19. Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Redistricting process gaining momentum," May 22, 2011
    20. Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Redistricting plan clears both House and Senate," March 10, 2012
    21. Pinedale Roundup, "Gov. Mead signs redistricting plan into law," March 8, 2012
    22. Oil City News, "RARE WYOMING LEGISLATURE SPECIAL SESSION TO TAKE ON COVID-19," May 15, 2020
    23. Ben Neary, The Washington Times, "Medicaid and budget issues face Wyoming Legislature," January 25, 2015
    24. wyofile.com, "Legislature 2014: What you need to know about the budget session," December 3, 2013
    25. Cody Enterprise, "Wyoming Legislature set for ‘wild ride’," January 2, 2013
    26. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
    27. Wyoming Legislative Service Office, "2010 session dates for Wyoming Legislature," accessed August 1, 2014
    28. Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
    29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023