Friday, February 20, 2026 |
Photo – Wyoming State Capitol building – Courtesy WYDOT
The Wyoming House of Representatives, on Wednesday night, voted unanimously to enact a rule forbidding members from accepting money from lobbyists during a session, whether the meeting is in Cheyenne or anywhere else in Wyoming where lawmakers meet.
The rule came in reaction to a Teton County GOP member who passed out checks to Republican House members. The monetary transaction occurred in front of Albany County Democrat, Karlee Provenza, who took a photo of the transactions and gave it to the Cowboy State Daily, which published the photo on its web site this week, giving Provenza a photo credit.
On the opening day of the session, Bextel called the cash payout “campaign contributions.”
The bill passed on Wednesday night forbids “campaign contributions” from being dispensed at times and locations where legislative business is being conducted.
Before the matter went to a vote, Representative Steve Harshman, a former House Speaker, spoke to the gravity of the matter.
The current House Speaker, Chip Nieman, a Republican from Hulett, was among the representatives who received a check from the Teton County realtor. Nieman is facing an election campaign this year.
Democrat Representative Karlee Provenza photographed one check being handed out and took a photograph of Rebecca Bextel handing a check to Rock Springs Republican Darin McCann. Standing next to McCann was Marlen Brady of Green River, who appears to have accepted a check already. Provenza sent the photograph to the Cowboy State Daily rather than to House leadership.
House Majority Floor Leader Scott Heiner of Green River spelled out what the legislation covers regarding the behavior of House members receiving campaign contributions.
On Tuesday, the Wyoming senate passed a similar rule. The legislative action follows an executive order issued Tuesday by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon that bans the practice of accepting campaign contributions in buildings where state business is being conducted.
