Wyoming Legislature updates – Feb. 16 & 17, 2022
by Albert Sommers, House District #20 Representative
February 18, 2022
2/16/2022
Hello Sublette County, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you from Cheyenne on February 16. Today, we voted on more bill introductions and debated bills in Committee of the Whole.
A few bills failed introduction today, including HJ0002 - Convention of States, which is a resolution requesting Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution. The Legislature of the State of Wyoming would apply to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention of states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. If two-thirds of the states make this application to Congress, then a Constitutional Convention is called to debate amendments to the US Constitution. If through the Convention of States process an amendment to the Constitution is agreed upon, then three-fourths of states’ legislatures must approve that amendment.
Sublette County residents have emailed me more support letters for the Convention of States resolution than any other issue that I have dealt with over the years. I voted to support introduction of HJ002, but I do have grave concerns about a Convention of States. I believe the US Constitution is the greatest governmental document ever written, and I worry about what could happen to that document in an open Convention of States. Think of all the nations and groups that would like to destroy our country. The only way the United States can be destroyed is if our constitutional foundation is cracked. The problem is not with the Constitution. The problem is with Congress. Congress needs to stop being dysfunctional and forcing the courts and the chief executive to step into the power vacuum and control the country.
HB0100 - Redistricting of the legislature, was discussed in Committee of the Whole today. This bill would transition Wyoming from 60 House districts and 30 Senate districts to a 62/31 configuration in the Legislature. The goal of redistricting is to give proportional representation to all districts in Wyoming. This plan will create better representation for rural areas of Wyoming by creating districts with smaller populations. Rural areas are decreasing in population and urban areas are increasing, which requires district boundary adjustments to accommodate this shift in population.
In Committee of the Whole, three amendments were adopted, none of which directly affected Sublette County. After Committee of the Whole, House District #20, my district, still includes all of Sublette County, plus the greater LaBarge area. A map showing each of these amendments can be found under HB0100 by clicking on the earth symbol on the sidebar.
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com for questions or concerns.
The Legislative website can be accessed at https://wyoleg.gov/. This website will show you all of the bills before the Legislature.
2/17/2022
Hello Sublette County, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you from Cheyenne on February 17. Today, we voted on more bill introductions, debated bills in Committee of the Whole, heard bills on 2nd Reading, and had the final vote on bills in 3rd Reading.
HB0100 - Redistricting of the legislature, was discussed in 2nd Reading today. In our continued discussion of redistricting, further amendments were debated. Amendment 1 would have moved from the 62 house districts/31 senate districts plan back to the current configuration of 60/30. Amendment 1 would have split Sublette County, and I voted against it. This amendment failed. Once again, after 2nd Reading, House District #20 still includes all of Sublette County and the greater LaBarge area. A map showing each of these amendments and the state divisions as a whole can be found under HB0100 by clicking on the earth symbol on the sidebar.
Of the many bills voted on for introduction, four important ones should be noted. One of my bills, HB0015 -Political subdivision club liquor licenses, passed introduction. This bill would allow Sublette County to contract out operations of the bar/grill enterprise on the golf course, without having to transfer Sublette County’s liquor license to the contracted operator. HB15 fixes an issue for Sublette County that was created by passage of a bill last session.
Another important bill discussed today was HJ0003 - Runoff elections-constitutional amendment. House Joint Resolution #3 is a constitutional amendment that would allow for run-off elections, by requiring a special session during redistricting years, in order to have voting district lines adjusted in time for an early primary. A run-off election requires time for a primary, then a run-off election, and finally a General Election. This would require Wyoming to hold a primary in May. The schedule for a run-off election causes more problems than it solves, and it costs the state money. Our current elections process has been in place for over 100 years and has served us well. If we need any change, I would consider an open primary that takes the top two or three to the General Election. This type of primary would also avoid the issue of crossover voting, because everyone must decide at the primary whom they will vote for. I did not support HJ3, and it failed introduction.
HB0092 - abortion prohibition-supreme court decision, was also discussed today. This bill would hold that an abortion will not be performed except in the circumstance that the woman is at the risk of death or of substantial and irreversible injury. This bill puts in place Wyoming abortion policy if Roe v. Wade is stricken by the Supreme Court. I voted in favor of this bill and it passed introduction.
Finally, HB0097 - Ban on teaching and training critical race theory, was debated. I voted against this bill, and it failed the introduction vote. I believe SF0062 - civics transparency act, is a better solution. This act requires K12 curriculum be posted for the public to see. This allows parents to see what is being taught and school boards to be accountable to the public. I believe in local control, and not in the State controlling local curriculum. It is a violation of the Wyoming Constitution for the State to set K12 curriculum.
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com for questions or concerns.
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