The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Wyoming allocates $51.2 million for University of Wyoming faculty research projects and student stipends
Last action · March 3, 2026: H COW:Failed 25-30-7-0-0Sponsors: Scott and 3 others
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
The Wyoming legislature appropriates $51.2 million from the general fund to create a faculty research project account at the University of Wyoming, providing continuous funding for research, equipment, business-requested studies, and graduate student stipends. The bill requires a 1-to-1 nonstate matching fund ratio for most projects, dictates a 50-50 profit split between the university and researchers unless otherwise negotiated, and mandates annual legislative reporting starting October 1, 2027.
The measure injects $51.2 million in state funds into University of Wyoming research initiatives while requiring private or nonstate matching dollars for most grants, creating new funding streams for graduate assistants capped at $1,500 monthly and establishing formal profit-sharing rules for resulting commercial innovations.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
University of Wyoming faculty researchers
Faculty members gain access to dedicated research funding, equipment acquisition grants, and a guaranteed 50% share of commercial research profits.
Graduate students at the University of Wyoming
Graduate students assisting with funded projects become eligible for research stipends of up to $1,500 per month.
Wyoming businesses
Businesses can request specific research projects that fit the university's research strengths without needing to provide matching funds.
Key Facts
- Appropriates $51.2 million from the state general fund to the newly created university faculty research project account.
- Establishes continuous appropriation for account funds, preventing them from lapsing or reverting under standard state statutes.
- Allocates funds for enhanced research equipment, database access, donor-backed projects, business-requested research, miscellaneous projects, and graduate student stipends.
- Provides graduate student research assistants with a stipend of up to $1,500 per month in addition to regular income, exempt from matching fund requirements.
Show all 7 facts
- Requires a 1-to-1 nonstate matching fund ratio for appropriated funds expended on general research projects under paragraphs (b)(i) through (iv).
- Splits commercial profits from funded research evenly (50% to the university and 50% to the faculty researcher) unless an explicit alternative profit or ownership model is negotiated.
- Mandates that the University of Wyoming report annually to the joint interim committees on education, minerals, business and economic development, and appropriations, beginning October 1, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are profits distributed from research funded by this account?
Do graduate student stipends require nonstate matching funds?
What is the matching fund requirement for general research projects?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Failed in the House.
Procedural history
17 actions- Mar 3, 2026HouseH02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 4-3-0-0-0
- Mar 3, 2026HouseH Placed on General File
- Mar 3, 2026HouseH COW:Failed 25-30-7-0-0
- Mar 2, 2026HouseH04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-0-1-0-0
- Mar 2, 2026HouseH04 - Education:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations
- Feb 25, 2026HouseH Received for Introduction
Show 11 earlier actions
- Feb 25, 2026HouseH Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education
- Feb 24, 2026SenateS 3rd Reading:Passed 24-7-0-0-0
- Feb 23, 2026SenateS 2nd Reading:Passed
- Feb 20, 2026SenateS COW:Passed
- Feb 19, 2026SenateRecalled from Committee Pursuant to Senate Rule 5-5: 29-2-0-0-0
- Feb 17, 2026SenateS06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
- Feb 17, 2026Senate:Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations
- Feb 16, 2026Senate:Refer to S06 - Travel
- Feb 12, 2026SenateS Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education 23-8-0-0-0
- Feb 11, 2026SenateS Received for Introduction
- Feb 10, 2026Bill Number Assigned
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Exemption from Standard Lapsing Statutes
The bill explicitly overrides standard state statutes (W.S. 9-2-1008, 9-2-1012(e), and 9-4-207) to ensure research account funds do not revert to the state treasury at the end of the fiscal cycle.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.wyoleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools