Lobbyists are paid by the organization they are working for to come to the Legislative session and interim committee meetings to either testify to bills that affect their organization or in some cases a whole group of bureaucracies.  The question is should you have to pay for it.  Right now, you are.  

Two bills in the last two days were struck down that would limit or stop any “Government entity” lobbying groups like the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (your cities and towns lobbying group) from having their association fees paid by your tax dollars

One of those was House Bill 131, titled “Government Membership and Cooperation with Associations,” failed to receive the required two-thirds vote for introduction in the Wyoming House this week. The measure received 27 votes in favor and 34 against. 
 
What It Would Have Done

 
HB131 would have prohibited state agencies and political subdivisions — including counties, cities, towns, school districts, special districts, joint powers boards, community colleges, the University of Wyoming and other state entities — from using public funds to pay membership dues to associations composed primarily of government entities that engage in influencing legislative or administrative action. 
 
The bill also would have prohibited taxpayer-funded reimbursement for travel, lodging, conference registration, participation expenses and payments tied to lobbying activities.

Importantly, the bill would not have prohibited membership itself. Government officials could still join associations. The proposal required that dues and related expenses not be paid with taxpayer funds. 

The central question is should taxpayers pay for lobbying organizations that often advocate in favor of government and not on behalf of citizens.  34 members of the House think you should.
 
Who Voted How
 
Voting in favor of introduction (27): 

ROLL CALL

Ayes:  Representative(s) Allemand, Andrew, Angelos, Bear, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Guggenmos, Haroldson, Hoeft, Johnson, Knapp, Lien, Locke, Lucas, Mccann, Ottman, Pendergraft, Rodriguez-Williams, Singh, Smith, Strock, Tarver, Wasserburger, Webber, Wharff, Winter

 
Voting against introduction (34): 
Nays:  Representative(s) Banks, Brown, L, Byron, Campbell, E, Campbell, K, Chestek, Clouston, Connolly, Davis, Erickson, Filer, Fornstrom, Geringer, Harshman, Heiner, Jarvis, Larsen, L, Larson, Jt, Lawley, Neiman, Nicholas, Posey, Provenza, Riggins, Schmid, Sherwood, Storer, Styvar, Thayer, Washut, Webb, Williams, Wylie, Yin

 
Because introduction required 42 votes, the measure fell 15 votes short of moving forward. 


 
Who Engaged with Lawmakers


Several lawmakers confirmed to The Open Range Record that most of the emails and correspondence they received regarding HB0131 originated from individuals affiliated with associations that would have been directly affected by the legislation. 
 
That response is not unusual. Organized associations tend to mobilize quickly when legislation impacts their funding or operations. What was largely absent from the discussion was broad engagement from individual taxpayers — many of whom may not have been aware the issue was under consideration. 
 
On the same day HB0131 failed introduction, county commissioners from across Wyoming were in Cheyenne for meetings and events with legislators — a routine and longstanding part of the legislative session. 
 
There is nothing improper about that. But it illustrates a structural reality: organized institutions have consistent access and coordinated communication channels. Individual taxpayers rarely do. 


 
The Financial Scale
 
Wyoming government entities collectively spend approximately $3.2 million per year of taxpayer funds on association membership fees alone. That figure does not include travel expenses, lodging, per diem, conference registration or staff time associated with participation. The total annual cost of association involvement across state and local government may be considerably higher. 

For example, taxpayers pay $75,000.00 per year for our 1 Attorney General to be part of an association called the National Association of Attorneys General.  In addition to the NAAG, the legislature pays a significant amount of money for the NCSL and the SLLF.
 
Currently, there is no centralized statewide report allowing taxpayers to easily see which associations their local governments belong to and how much is spent annually. 


 
A Transparency Alternative 
 
While HB0131 sought to prohibit the use of public funds for these memberships, a narrower approach may focus first on transparency. Rather than banning expenditures outright, lawmakers could require every government entity in Wyoming to annually publish: 
 
- All association memberships 
- Total dues paid 
- Travel, lodging and per diem expenses tied to those memberships 
- Conference registrations and sponsorships 
- Any payments to associations engaged in lobbying 
- The statutory authority for those expenditures 
 
Such a requirement would not restrict participation. It would simply allow taxpayers to see the full cost. That visibility alone could change the conversation. 
 
When citizens understand how much is being spent — and on what — they are better positioned to decide whether those expenditures reflect their priorities. Transparency has a way of prompting engagement. 
 
If the spending provides measurable value to Wyoming communities, it should withstand scrutiny. If not, voters deserve to know. HB0131 did not receive the votes necessary for introduction. This may only be the beginning of the scrutiny surrounding the $3.2 million in annual association dues.