Session Down, Interim to Go
The 2023 General Session of the 67th Wyoming Legislature came to a close on Friday, March 3rd. The most inexperienced legislature in 30 years was further challenged with greatest amount of proposed bills (493) in decades. The highlight was definitely the efficiency with which the supplemental budget was considered, amended, and reconciled while providing a […]
And they are off
The first five days are in the bag and the Senate has taken a decided lead in the marathon. There are 16 Senate Files that have been introduced, assigned to committee, considered and passed in committee, placed on general file, passed through Committee of the Whole, passed 2nd reading and passed 3rd Reading. They will […]
Track & Field, Legislative Style
Hurdles is the absolute perfect analogy for the obstacle course of a Wyoming Legislative Session. There are at least 9 opportunities for a bill to die in the budget session as any non-budget bill requires 2/3 majority for introduction in the chamber of origin. Because this is the first year after census results, the exemption […]
Alphabet Soup: Amended Bills
Even the most experienced observers of the Legislature get lost in the maze of changes to bills going through the process. Amendments are considered on first reading, referred to as Committee of the whole, Second Reading and Third Reading. The amendments reference page numbers and line numbers on the original introduced bill and on previous […]
Special Session – Special Rules
The Proclamation for the Special Session, signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, summons members to address “a critical situation [that] exists relating to COVID-19 vaccine mandates…” The 66th Legislature of Wyoming will convene on Tuesday, 26 October at the State Capitol for a maximum of three days. News articles, […]
Primary Election Options
The 2021 Joint Interim Committee on Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions held their first meeting in Cheyenne on June 7th and 8th. Preliminary consideration was given on the four Interim Topics: redistricting, elections, insurance and special districts. The Legislative Services Office has been tasked with drafting preliminary bills for review at the next scheduled meeting. […]
Legislative Twilight Zone
The sun has set on the 2021 Wyoming Legislature General Session. Another short session is expected in July to distribute federal funding from the America’s Recovery Plan Act (ARPA). That infusion of funding allowed the Legislature to postpone addressing the structural funding shortfall for both Education and State operations. Final disposition of all 441 numbered […]
Waning Days of 2021 Session
Current Status of Legislation With just two days of Legislative Session remaining, only 30 of the original 441 numbered bills remain for action. These have all passed 3rd Reading in the second house. Three have reported out of conference committee and await the second chamber acceptance. One has no amendments from the engrossed copy and […]
Withering on the Vine
The second major milestone for the 2021 General Session will occur tomorrow, 12 March 2021. This is the last day for bills to be reported out of Committee in the house of origin. Any not placed on General File will be “dead” in committee and will not proceed through the process. Currently there are 55 […]
Can’t Have That Cake And Eat It Too
On Friday, 05 March 2021, it was a pleasure to witness a groundbreaking legislative effort that actually addresses a Wyoming problem. The lack of residency terms for US House and US Senate resulting from US Supreme Court decisions beginning in the 1960s has made Wyoming seats, in particular, tasty morsels for outsiders to try to […]