CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Both the Wyoming House and Senate adjourned Thursday “sine die” — Latin for recessing “without date” for resumption — nixing uncertainty about when exactly the 2025 general session would conclude.
There had been chatter that lawmakers would stick it out for two more days to have the opportunity to override a potential gubernatorial override of a gun bill.
Senate File 196, “Second Amendment Protection Act amendments,” would amend current statute to further prohibit local law enforcement from helping the federal government enforce federal gun laws, according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
The Legislature did not shy away from overrides this session, choosing to overrule five of Gordon’s vetoes. But lawmakers must be in session to override a veto, so once the two chambers adjourn sine die, the governor’s red pen becomes that much mightier.
Speaker of the House Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, and Senate President Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, announced they would keep with the schedule in a joint statement Thursday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, the Governor is working through a significant amount of legislation, and timing may result in SF 196 not passing this year. The good news is that President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, and the threat from the Federal Government is small for now,” the two leaders wrote.
The joint message signaled a moment of unity after a session sometimes characterized by strife and finger pointing between the two chambers.
“Both the House and the Senate are committed to adopting SF 196 exactly as passed this year,” they wrote. If the governor vetoes the bill, “as is his prerogative,” the two lawmakers promised to immediately take up the issue again in 2026.
“We will thoughtfully consider any concerns that the Governor brings to our attention and will work with him to get good policy passed in Wyoming,” they wrote.
As is tradition, the session ended with remarks in both chambers by the governor, who thanked lawmakers for their work.
“It seems like it might have been a year, but I hope it’s been as fun as the brochures advertised,” Gordon told the House. “But I will say thank you for being together, for working always for the people of Wyoming.”
Gordon did not indicate the fate of SF 196 or any other bill that now awaits his decision. But he did point lawmakers to a passage from the Bible’s book of Micah.
“This is something I’ve been reading to myself the last couple of nights, trying to come to grips with what that means,” Gordon said. “I think it’s important now in Wyoming, we think about those verses. It’s not about what we say, as much as it is about what we do.”
Gordon has until March 27 to decide on remaining legislation.
This article was originally published by WyoFile and is republished here with permission. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
