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SF 131

Charter school leasing.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John Bear and 7 co-sponsors

Repeals the entitlement to reimbursement for charter school lease payments when SCD finds no district facilities; SCD still reviews space, but there is no funding obligation.

Assigned Chapter Number 24
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Bill Summary · SF 131

Summary — SF 131 (Charter school leasing)

Status: Enacted (Chapter No. 24 / SEA No. 0012)
Introduced: Jan 23, 2025 — Governor signed Feb 24, 2025.
Primary sponsors: Senators Driskill, Brennan, Dockstader, Hutchings, Olsen, Salazar; Representatives Bear, Neiman.

Purpose

SF 131 removes a statutory entitlement that conditioned state reimbursement of charter school lease payments on a State Construction Department (SCD) determination that no adequate district facilities were available. The bill also clarifies the SCD’s review duty regarding charter requests for space.

Key provisions

  • Repeals W.S. 21-3-110(a)(x)(A)(II) — the statutory provision that created a reimbursement entitlement for charter schools’ lease payments when the SCD determined there were no existing adequate educational facilities within the district.
  • Amends W.S. 21-15-123(f)(ix) to state the SCD shall review charter school requests submitted under W.S. 21-3-110(a)(x) and 21-3-304(k) to determine whether available and adequate space exists within the applicable district for the charter school’s operation. (This preserves the SCD’s review role but does not create a statutory reimbursement obligation.)
  • Makes conforming amendments and provides that the act is effective immediately upon completion of the acts necessary for a bill to become law (i.e., upon enactment).

Who is affected

  • Charter schools: Lose the statutory reimbursement entitlement for leasing expenses tied to an SCD finding of no adequate district facilities. This may increase operating costs for some charter operators who lease facilities.
  • School districts and the State Construction Department: SCD retains authority to review and make findings about availability/adequacy of district space for charter operations; districts may still negotiate facility use but are no longer required by this statute to reimburse charter lease costs in the repealed circumstance.
  • State budget: Fiscal note from the State Construction Department indicates no significant fiscal or personnel impact.

Procedural history & votes

  • Senate: Referred to S04 – Education; committee recommended amend & do pass (5–0). Passed Senate 3rd Reading 30–1–0–0–0.
  • House: Referred to H04 – Education; committee recommended do pass (9–0). Passed House 3rd Reading 56–5–1–0–0.
  • Governor signed SEA No. 0012; assigned Chapter No. 24 (Session Laws of Wyoming 2025).

Fiscal note

The State Construction Department reported the bill has no significant fiscal or personnel impact.

Practical implications to watch

  • Charter operators relying on prior reimbursement language may need to reassess facility financing and lease arrangements.
  • The SCD’s continued review role preserves an administrative determination process about facility adequacy, but the removal of the reimbursement mandate changes the financial remedy previously available to charters in those circumstances.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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