Lawmakers Reshape Legislative Committees Ahead of Wyoming’s 2024 Session

As the 68th Wyoming Legislature prepares for its two-month-long general session beginning in January, lawmakers have made significant changes to committee leadership, with new appointments announced on December 7, Wyoming Public Media reports.

During the session, legislative committees are tasked with reviewing bills, gathering public input, and recommending action on measures to be considered by the full House or Senate. The presiding officers of both chambers—the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate—select committee chairs.

The upcoming session marks a shift in committee leadership, particularly in the House of Representatives, where seven out of ten incoming committee chairs are aligned with the further-right Wyoming Freedom Caucus. This reflects the group’s growing influence in the lower chamber following the general election. Former Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. John Bear (R-Gillette) will lead the House Appropriations Committee, while Rep. Ocean Andrew (R-Laramie), a fellow caucus member, will head the Education Committee.

In the Senate, at least two committee leaders have been either endorsed by or voted with the Freedom Caucus in the past. Sen. Tim French (R-Powell) will chair the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Sen. Tim Salazar (R-Riverton) will lead the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Both chambers will work together on legislative matters through joint committees during the interim period.

A noteworthy change this session is the complete absence of Democrats on the education committees of both chambers, a first since at least 2001. This shift has prompted criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with one representative claiming that the decision by incoming House Speaker Chip Neiman (R-Hulett) reflects a prioritization of political control over bipartisan collaboration. Critics argue that this move could limit diverse viewpoints and oversight on education policies.

Despite its newfound power, the Freedom Caucus has expressed concerns of its own, particularly regarding the composition of the Senate committees. In a press release, they voiced displeasure at the dominance of committee chairs with ties to more moderate Republicans, specifically those aligned with Liz Cheney.