Lawmakers Shelve Bid to Curb “Tax-funded Lobbying” by Local Groups

A Wyoming legislative panel has put on ice a bill aimed at stopping local-government associations from using public money to lobby state lawmakers,  Gillette News Record reports.

On Tuesday, the Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee voted to table draft bill 26LSO-018, “Public funds lobbying,” indefinitely. Modeled on a 2021 proposal that died in committee, the measure would have barred tax dollars from bankrolling lobbying by groups like the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) and the Wyoming County Commissioners Association (WCCA). Individual officials could still testify at hearings.

The push came after months of criticism from the Wyoming Freedom Caucus and allies, including unsuccessful efforts in Sheridan to pull the city and county out of their associations during budget talks. Local governments currently pay membership dues with public funds.

WAM Executive Director Ashley Harpstreith countered that dues don’t pay for lobbying; those costs are covered by other revenue like conference fees and member donations. Most of WAM’s work, added Board President and Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock, is training and support for city and town officials:

“Taking a position on a bill is a small slice of what we do.”

Committee members, meanwhile, struggled with basic definitions — what exactly counts as lobbying, and how would violations be enforced?

“It’s not clear,” Harpstreith said, urging more work on the language.

Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Torrington, then moved to table the bill, saying the growing friction with other elected officials “hurts my heart” and risks stepping on local jurisdictions. The motion passed. Only one person testified in favor; three opposed, with many more ready to speak before the vote cut things short.

“For those who didn’t get a chance to testify, the outcome was probably going your way,” co-Chair Chris Knapp, R-Gillette, told the room.

WCCA Executive Director Jerimiah Rieman noted many of the state’s 93 county commissioners couldn’t appear — Tuesdays are their regular, legally required meeting days. He argued WCCA has given counties a unified voice for nearly 50 years and helps align legislative intent with real-world implementation.

Casper activist Ross Schriftman was the lone supporter present, saying association positions don’t always mirror public sentiment and questioning whether lawmaker dinners are funded by taxpayers. His bottom line: if dues aren’t used for lobbying, “this bill won’t affect them.”

Harpstreith said WAM is weighing a plan to route membership dues to a separate nonprofit dedicated to education, further walling off lobbying expenses.

Tabling doesn’t kill the concept entirely — an individual lawmaker could still run the bill when the 2026 budget session opens Feb. 9. For now, though, the “public funds lobbying” fight is back on the shelf.