Legislature at halfway point; sum of bills left narrows

CASPER — Over 80 bills died when both chambers of the Legislature adjourned on Friday evening.

Friday marked the deadline for the second reading of bills in their house of origin and 81 bills — 25 in the House of Representatives and 56 in the Senate — were scheduled to be heard for the first time out of committee.

Friday additionally marked the midpoint of the 20-business-day session where the Legislature is tasked with setting and approving the entire state’s budget for 2025 and 2026. Bills brought forward ranged from the budget, property taxes, mental health funding to non-budget-related bil...