Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder has unveiled an ambitious legislative agenda for the 2025 session, focusing on student safety, school choice, academic excellence, and state sovereignty.
As State Superintendent, State Land Commissioner, and a member of the State Loan and Investment Board, Degenfelder’s priorities aim to address pressing educational and governance challenges in Wyoming.
Degenfelder’s agenda emphasizes student safety and parental rights. Key initiatives include:
- Extending Sports Participation Rules: Prohibit biological males from participating in women’s sports at the collegiate level.
- Parental Consent: Require parental approval for school staff addressing children by names or genders not assigned at birth.
- Enhanced Security: Expand concealed carry policies in schools and strengthen security measures.
- Mental Health Support: Establish an external referral system for student mental health services.
- Combating Drug Issues: Increase penalties for fentanyl distribution to minors and narcotics possession on school grounds.
- Online Safety: Ban access to online pornography for minors.
Degenfelder advocates for broader educational opportunities, including:
- Eliminating Charter School Caps: Remove the limit on state-authorized charter schools.
- Streamlining Homeschool Regulations: End state oversight of homeschooling curriculums.
- Open Enrollment: Allow families to choose schools within their districts.
- Education Savings Accounts: Remove income restrictions on accounts to increase accessibility.
The Superintendent’s plan for academic growth includes:
- Early Literacy Initiatives: Implement reforms to ensure students read at grade level.
- Classroom Focus: Ban cellphones during instructional time.
- Career Preparation: Expand career and technical education programs.
- DEI Practices: Remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices from public institutions.
- Innovation: Partner with blockchain organizations for technology-focused learning.
Degenfelder also highlighted initiatives related to her other state roles:
- Federal Land Oversight: Oppose net increases in federally controlled land.
- Agriculture Support: Maintain preferential renewal rights for agricultural leases and exempt state land lessees from property taxes.
- Energy and Investments: Codify the state’s investment policies against Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) requirements.
Degenfelder’s agenda touches on several national debates:
- Transgender Policies: Extend restrictions on transgender athletes to collegiate sports and regulate bathroom access by biological sex.
- Concealed Carry: Support measures to allow concealed firearms in schools and state-owned buildings.
- Diversity Practices: Advocate for removing DEI requirements from public institutions, aligning Wyoming with other Republican-led states.
Several of Degenfelder’s priorities align with bills already filed for the upcoming session. For example, House Bill 94, authored by Rep. Ocean Andrew, seeks to eliminate caps on state-authorized charter schools, while Sen. Wendy Schuler and Rep. Martha Lawley have introduced legislation on collegiate sports and bathroom policies.
“The future of our state depends on preserving Wyoming’s values and empowering families,” Degenfelder stated. “This agenda is about protecting what matters most—our children, our schools, and our way of life.”
The 2025 legislative session begins on January 14, and Degenfelder’s proposals are expected to generate significant discussion across Wyoming.
With input from Sheridan Media and Casper Star-Tribune.
