Long-term funding for suicide prevention lifeline removed

CHEYENNE — The 988 suicide lifeline bill was stripped on Friday of its $40 million appropriation to create a long-term trust fund, as well as the $6 million for a trust fund reserve account.

The change was adopted in an amendment brought forward by Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne. His new language removed the trust fund and directed the Wyoming Department of Health to request an appropriation to fund the suicide prevention system in its next budget request.

Brown told lawmakers on the House floor that while the state was sitting on a strong cash flow right now, he wasn’t sure if the answer was t...