The Wyoming Legislature holds its budget session for four weeks—February 8-March 5. Non-budget bills can only be introduced with a 2/3 vote of either the House or Senate during the first week. No more new bills can be introduced. If introduced, the bill moves onto a committee and then through both the House and Senate. The budget bill will be debated simultaneously in the House and the Senate on Tuesday, February 23. Citizens can contact their legislators before and during the session by e-mail, telephone or in person at legisweb.state.wy.us
To view details on the budget bill and each of these bills, click here.
Bills Update
House Bill 15, Electrical safety and fire prevention, revisions - Sponsored by the Joint Corporations Committee, regulation provisions for additional authority for the state of Wyoming. Passed House and Senate, awaiting Governor’s signature.
House Bill 29, Taxation of Digital Products - Sponsored by the Revenue Committee, directed towards expanding the tax base and taxing the new world of digital products. Passed House and Senate, awaiting Governor’s signature.
House Bill 30, Authority of Department of Transportation - Sponsored by the Transportation Committee, provides additional authority to purchase right of ways for safety. Failed House introduction.
House Bill 40, Tax Increment Financing - Sponsored by the Revenue Committee. Failed in House Revenue Committee by a 4-5 vote.
House Bill 44, Economic Development Property Tax Reduction -
Sponsored by Rep. Illoway, a recent decision by the Wyoming Board of Equalization is forcing county assessors to assess economic development property as if it was ready to be sold tomorrow. Legislation allows commercial land only without improvements to be taxed. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governor’s signature.
House Bill 49, Manufacturing Sales and Use Tax Exemption - Sponsored Rep. Madden, extending sales and use tax exemption for manufacturing equipment and repealing outdated provisions. Passed House and Senate, signed by Governor.
House Bill 71, Workers Compensation Appeals - Sponsored by Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, provides for direct appeal of worker’s compensation small claims and contested case decisions to the supreme court. Defeated in Senate Committee.
House Bill 108, Health Insurance Reform - Sponsored by Rep. Simpson, creating the Wyoming Affordable HSA Eligible High Deductible Health Plan Act; providing a limited insurance premium tax waiver as specified; prescribing duties of the insurance commissioner; providing exceptions to the Unfair Trade Practices Act. Laid back bill by Senate Labor Committee.
House Bill 113, Concealed Weapon Authority - Sponsored by Rep. Quarberg, allows concealed weapons to be carried without permits. Continues lack of restrictions and guns can be legally taken into retail stores, restaurants but not bars. Not considered in Senate Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 128, Health Insurance, Interstate Purchase - Sponsored by Rep. Simpson, authorizing the sale in Wyoming of health insurance by out-of-state insurers as specified; providing for more limited regulation of policies; providing for oversight by the insurance commissioner; providing for cooperation by the insurance commissioner with other states with consistent insurance laws to allow multi-state sales without duplicate regulation. Is not effective until after the 2011 legislative session. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governor’s signature.
Senate File 13, Economic Analysis - Sponsored by the Agriculture Committee, providing for collecting, compiling, analyzing and distributing county economic data; providing for establishment of uniform data criteria; and providing for an effective date. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governor’s signature.
Senate File 16, Providing for review of a property tax assessment -Sponsored by the Revenue Committee, provides procedures for review of a property tax assessment. Passed House and Senate, signed by Governor.
Senate File 18, Limited liability companies, revisions - Sponsored by the Corporations Committee, updating and modifying statutes to comply with the revised uniform limited liability company act in part and with exceptions and changes. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governor’s signature.
Senate File 23, Unemployment Compensation Amendments - Sponsored by the Labor Committee, makes a number of changes to the Unemployment Compensation statutes, including bringing the state into federal compliance and several other changes affecting employers. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governor’s signature.
Senate File 25, Liens - Sponsored by the Judiciary Committee, reorganizing lien statutes as specified; generally amending and clarifying the process for filing liens; specifying time limits for filing forms; amending substantive rights under lien provisions; conforming statutes; authorizing attorney fees and costs as specified. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governors Signature.
Senate File 27, Government competition - Sponsored by Sen. Case, an act relating to administration of government; providing a process for lodging concerns with and for review of competition by government entities with the private sector; requiring a report to the legislature; providing a sunset date; and providing for an effective date. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governor’s signature.
Senate File 35, Tolling authority for I-80 - Sponsored by the Joint Transportation Committee, calls for a study of imposing tolls on Interstate 80 by the Wyoming Dept. of Transportation. Did not pass House Transportation Committee.
Senate File 61, Health Insurance Reform - Sponsored by Sen. Scott, creating a health care reform demonstration project using the board and administrative structure of the Wyoming health insurance pool. Passed House and Senate, awaits Governor’s signature.
Senate File 77, Career and Technical Training Grants - Sponsored by Sen. Hastert, establishes a career and technical training scholarship program in the department of workforce services. Failed Senate introduction.
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