Wyoming H 1 (General Government Appropriations), Section 067

Summary

Appropriates $2.5 million for building artificial intelligence expertise at the University of Wyoming, requiring a matching ratio of 1:1 from non-public sources.

Specifies that the AI-related funding should not be included in the university's standard budget for the next fiscal biennium.

Conditions the use of AI funds upon securing matched contributions from individuals, partnerships, corporations, or other entities.

Prohibits the transfer or expenditure of AI appropriation for any purpose other than building AI expertise.

Includes intent for developing AI expertise funding to be temporary and contingent on nonstate matching funds.

States that the appropriation's intent is not to support any office or program related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Overall, emphasizes the development of AI expertise through matched funding, with specific conditions and limitations on its use and future budget inclusion.

Allocates $3,000,000 exclusively for graduate assistant stipends, prohibiting other use.

Section 067. UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING PROGRAM | Amount | Additional | Total

State Aid 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., | 401,227,647 | | 401,227,647 12., 13. | | | School of Energy Res. 6., | 23,857,808 | 19,000,000 S13 | 42,857,808 7., 8., 9. | | | Tier 1 Engineering | 18,584,703 | | 18,584,703 NCAR MOU | 1,528,316 | | 1,528,316 Endowments & Matching | 39,500,000 | | 39,500,000 10., 11., 12., 14. | | |

TOTALS | 484,698,474 | 19,000,000 | 503,698,474

AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEES Full Time | 0 Part Time | 0 TOTAL | 0

1. Of this general fund appropriation, three million dollars ($3,000,000.00) is to fund graduate assistantship stipends. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose.

Allocates $2,500,000 for AI expertise, requiring matched private funds; excludes future standard budgets.

2. Of this general fund appropriation, two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00) is for building artificial intelligence expertise. Expenditure of this appropriation is conditioned upon a match of funds in the ratio of one dollar ($1.00) of appropriated general funds to not less than one dollar ($1.00) of matching funds from any person. For purposes of this footnote, "person" includes an individual, partnership, corporation, joint stock company or any other association or entity, excluding all public entities. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the University of Wyoming's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Allocates $1,000,000 for library collections, $10,000,000 for University of Wyoming athletic programs.

3. Of this general fund appropriation, one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) is to increase the library collections' biennial budget. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose.
4. (a) Of this general fund appropriation, ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) is appropriated for the purpose of providing a state match for funds received by the University of Wyoming from athletic booster organizations or persons donating funds to be used solely for athletic programs. This appropriation shall: (i) Be retained by the state treasurer for distribution in accordance with the provisions of this footnote; (ii) Be expended for the purposes of: (A) Authorized recruitment of prospective student athletes to the University of Wyoming and expenses associated with participation in intercollegiate athletics including summer school attendance, nutrition, tutoring, team travel and costs directly related to participation in competition; (B) Athletic training equipment. (iii) Not be used for salaries or capital construction projects; (iv) To the extent funds are available, be matched on a quarterly basis by the state treasurer for each cash or cash equivalent contribution actually received by the University of Wyoming for the purposes specified in this footnote for the period beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2026 by distributing to the University of Wyoming an amount equal to the amount of qualifying contributions for the quarter. (b) The appropriation specified in subsection (a) of this footnote shall not be transferred or expended for any purpose not specified in this footnote and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2026.

Allocates funds for rodeo, coal research, energy resources research, and nuclear energy at University of Wyoming.

5. Of this general fund appropriation, two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) is to support the University of Wyoming rodeo team.
6. Of this other funds appropriation, seventeen million dollars ($17,000,000.00)S13 is for demonstrations of coal solvent extraction and a coal-derived asphalt road. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the University of Wyoming's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
7. Of this other funds appropriation, two million dollars ($2,000,000.00)S13 is appropriated for the purpose of providing a state match for funds received by the University of Wyoming or donated funds to be used solely to support research, scholarships or endowments for the school of energy resources. Distribution of this appropriation is conditioned upon a match of funds in the ratio of one dollar ($1.00) of appropriated other funds to not less than one dollar ($1.00) of matching funds from any nonstate source. This appropriation shall be retained by the state treasurer for distribution in accordance with W.S. 21-16-904. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the University of Wyoming's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
8. Of this general fund appropriation, two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) is for building and continuing nuclear energy scholarship, research and training capacity at the University of Wyoming. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the University of Wyoming's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Allocates $750,000 for lithium competition; sets $12,000,000 for matching University of Wyoming endowment funds.

9. Of this general fund appropriation, seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00) is to administer, develop and implement an incentive innovator competition related to lithium extraction, development or use. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the University of Wyoming's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
10. (a) Of this general fund appropriation, twelve million dollars ($12,000,000.00) is appropriated to provide a state match for funds received by the University of Wyoming or donated funds in accordance with the following: (i) Not less than ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) is conditioned upon a match for a permanent endowment under W.S. 21-16-901 through 21-16-904. All state matching distributions from the account are appropriated solely to support endowments for priorities identified and approved by the University of Wyoming board of trustees; (ii) Up to two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) is conditioned upon a match for purposes of expenditures for priorities identified and approved by the University of Wyoming board of trustees. (b) Distribution of the appropriation specified in subsection (a) of this footnote is conditioned upon a match of funds in the ratio of one dollar ($1.00) of appropriated general funds to not less than one dollar ($1.00) of matching funds from any nonstate source. This appropriation shall be retained by the state treasurer for distribution in accordance with W.S. 21-16-904 regardless of whether the match is for purposes of a permanent endowment under paragraph (a)(i) of this footnote or for expenditure by the University of Wyoming under paragraph (a)(ii) of this footnote.

Appropriates funds for research with conditions; prohibits expenditure on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

11. (a) Of this general fund appropriation, twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) is appropriated to match research grants and contracts related to flow through porous media. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the University of Wyoming's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose. Of this general fund appropriation, twelve million five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000.00) is effective July 1, 2025, and twelve million five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000.00) is effective April 1, 2026. Expenditure of this appropriation is conditioned upon the University: (i) Securing a match of funds in the ratio of one dollar ($1.00) of appropriated general funds to not less than one dollar ($1.00) of matching funds from any other source; (ii) Conducting all computational and practical research to the greatest extent reasonably possible with University of Wyoming students within Wyoming; (iii) Performing research on geologic formations and energy extraction opportunities that may be found within Wyoming; (iv) To the extent possible, developing any feasibility studies, small-scale experiments or large-scale projects associated with research funded by this appropriation within Wyoming.
12. No funds from this appropriation shall be expended on the office of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Wyoming or on any diversity, equity and inclusion program, activity or function.

Authorizes fund use for feasibility study in medical education; allocates $2.5M for matched research in agriculture.

13. A portion of this general fund appropriation may be expended to conduct the purposes of this footnote. The University of Wyoming shall review opportunities, feasibility and costs associated with expanding medical education and training for Wyoming students, including broader use of WICHE, expanded agreements with WWAMI and new relationships with public universities in the western regional United States. The results of the review and recommendations shall be reported to the joint education interim committee and joint appropriations committee not later than October 1, 2024.
14. Of this general fund appropriation, two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000.00) is appropriated for the purpose of providing a state match for funds received by the University of Wyoming or donated funds to be used solely for support for excellence in research, education and extension in ranch and rangeland management, agronomy and soil science. Distribution of this appropriation is conditioned upon a match of funds in the ratio of one dollar ($1.00) of appropriated general funds to not less than one dollar ($1.00) of matching funds from any other source. This appropriation shall be retained by the state treasurer for distribution in accordance with W.S. 21-16-904. Notwithstanding W.S. 9-2-1008, 9-2-1012(e) and 9-4-207, any unexpended, unobligated monies from this appropriation shall not revert until June 30, 2030.