 - The budget bill the Wyoming Legislature approved this week included the $3 million increase in state funding that Wyoming Public Television requested this year to offset federal funding losses.){kind=link}
(Cheyenne, WY) – The budget bill the Wyoming Legislature approved this week included the $3 million increase in state funding that Wyoming Public Television requested this year to offset federal funding losses.
The budget did not include the station’s requested $3.6 million for upgrades to its broadcast infrstructure, however – including the statewide emergency alert system the station is federaly mandated to maintain.
The base budget for WPTV was set at $3.4 million, plus an additional $400,000 in investment earnings from the WPTV state endowment, according to Legislative Service Office staff.
The legislature also allocated $19,517 to WPTV for technology replacement (computers, software, etc.), along with $283,598 for employee compensation enhancements to modernize pay tables, the LSO staff said.
Gordon statement
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon issued a statement Tuesday regarding the passage of the budget, calling it a “win for the citizens across the state who got involved with their government after the Freedom Caucus-controlled Joint Appropriations Committee members made sweeping cuts to an already lean budget.”
In the statement, Gordon extended his gratitude to members of the Wyoming House who “courageously opposed the proposed cuts and insisted on asking the tough questions, even late into the night – questions that focused on transparency as well as, critically, the underlying reasons for making those cuts.”
“These questions struck a chord statewide and were powerfully voiced right here in Cheyenne by citizens from across Wyoming,” Gordon said.
He specifically thanked House members “who stood for employee compensation on third reading,” including Wyoming Reps. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, and Ivan Posey, D-Fort Washakie.
Gordon also expressed appreciation for the Senate’s “stalwart leadership,” which “paved the way to this amazing victory.”
He offered special thanks to “the members of the Senate who stood for restoring the Governor’s budget recommendations on second reading,” including Wyoming Sens. Cale Case, R-Lander, and Ed Cooper, R-Ten Sleep.
“The budget passed today restored almost all budget recommendations for the people of Wyoming and, as one Senator said, is only $53 million below my overall recommendation,” Gordon said. “By my back-of-the-napkin calculations, that’s close to 99 percent.
“Wyoming’s future is indeed bright,” he concluded. “We must continue to invest in our potential, grow our industries, preserve our small-town identity, and stand firm against the hysteria of national groups seeking to undermine our state.”
Bill signed
Gordon continued signing bills from the 2026 Budget Session this week, including:
- Senate File 16 – subleasing of state lands-exemptions
- House Joint Resolution 2 – Federal mineral royalties – state share
The full list of bills the Governor has signed can be found here.
The full text of all bills from the 2026 session may be found here.