Wyoming Legislature update – Jan. 30, 2019
by Albert Sommers, House District #20 Representative
January 31, 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Hello Sublette County,
This is Albert Sommers in Cheyenne. Yesterday (Tuesday, January 29th) was a marathon day with 2nd reading of the Budget Bill. There were 40 amendments submitted for consideration.
• 20 were adopted
• 16 failed
• 4 were withdrawn
One significant amendment that passed was Rep. Hallinan’s amendment to increase the property tax refund program to approximately $2.5 million dollars.
The House adjourned at approximately 9:00 PM. Upon adjournment, I joined my colleagues on the House Appropriation Committee to work bills. We finally adjourned the committee at about 11:45 PM. Third reading of the bills will take place on Thursday.
With both the House and Senate deadlines for submitting bills having passed, the 65th Legislature will consider 499 pieces of legislation.
On 2nd reading today, the House considered and passed 10 bills on voice vote, including:
• HB0133 – Hathaway expand Wyoming Scholarship
• HB0207 – Business licensing fees - 2
Four bills were considered in the House on third reading and were sent to the Senate for consideration, including these I supported.
• HB0117 - College entrance exam-written component.
• HB0132 - Hathaway scholarships-award increase.
This Committee of the Whole has considered 20 bills today. Eighteen bills passed on a voice vote and two failed.
Bills of note included:
• HB0189 – Wide load restrictions – agriculture
• HB0093 – Tourism improvement districts
There was passionate debate on two bills today. HB145 – Death penalty repeal and HB 140 – 48 Hour waiting period for abortions. Much of the debate surrounded the sanctity of life and the government’s role in taking a life. HB 145 passed on a standing vote of 36 ayes and HB 140 passed on a standing vote of 33 ayes. I would be interested in Sublette’s view of both of these bills, as the final vote will be Friday. I usually don’t support the repeal of the Death Penalty, but a great argument was made today. The death penalty frankly costs too much money, and we have only had two of these since the 1960s.
HB0205 - Big and trophy game animals-minimum hunting age, failed the House Committee of the Whole on a vote of 23-33-4. That bill would have lowered the minimum age for hunting from 12 years old to 10.
HB0151 - Ban on sanctuary cities and counties, failed on a vote of 22-36-2 as well, and I could not support this bill. We do not have an issue with this in Wyoming, and if we do, then we can address it.
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com with questions or concerns.
Thank you
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