Wyoming Legislature update – Feb. 14 & 15, 2023
by Albert Sommers, House District #20 Representative
February 17, 2023
Hello Sublette County and LaBarge, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you on February 15, the 26th day of the General Session of the 67th Legislature. We worked through Senate File bills on 2nd Reading, 3rd Reading and Committee of the Whole.
I will highlight three bills:
SF0029 - Brucellosis management updates. This bill removes the requirement that livestock be permanently branded with a "B" when the animal tests positive. The bill also creates temporary brucellosis surveillance areas for testing. Temporary surveillance areas are important for monitoring brucellosis in areas where wildlife populations test positive for brucellosis. This bill moves on to 2nd Reading.
SF0068, Prescriptive easement for water conveyances passed the House today. The bill codifies that water rights owners can access the irrigation ditch or structures to provide necessary maintenance or repair to ensure the use of their water rights. Several amendments were brought on 3rd Reading. The amendments passed and would require that the water right be consistent with historical and traditional use by the water user and requires the holder of the water conveyance to replace a landowner's infrastructure in a timely manner in consultation with the landowner. I supported this bill, but I have concerns that there are unintended consequences.
SF088 - Hunting licenses-weighted bonus points system heard multiple amendments today on 2nd Reading. One amendment would have allowed transferring any accumulated points to family members. Opponents of the amendment argued that this skewed the equality of the point system depending on family size. This amendment failed. Another amendment would have made it so that if a hunter were unsuccessful in their hunt, they would have been able to go back into the draw to redraw a bighorn sheep or moose license. Currently, drawing this license is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Opponents argued this would set a dangerous precedent. A hunting license provides the opportunity to take an animal, not a guarantee. This amendment also failed. The bill moves on to 3rd Reading.
2/14/2023
Hello Sublette County and LaBarge, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you on February 14, the 25th day of the General Session of the 67th Legislature. We worked through Senate File bills on 2nd and 3rd Reading and Committee of the Whole.
I will highlight three bills:
SF041 - Skill based amusement games-authorized locations This bill limits skill-based amusement games to truck stops, smoke shops, or locations licensed or permitted to sell alcoholic liquor or malt beverages. Amusement games in existing sites before September 14, 2022 are grandfathered. I supported this bill and it passed the House on 3rd Reading.
SF088 - Hunting licenses-weighted bonus points system passed the Committee of the Whole today. In last week's update, I expressed my concern that the conversion to a bonus points system for bighorn sheep and moose does not do enough to protect the existing high-point holders in the draw. Today an amendment was successfully passed that implements a separate formula for preference point holders with 19 points and higher starting in 2027 and extends through 2032. Those in this category and timeframe would have their bonus points cubed, increasing their odds. While not a perfect fix or system, this amendment gets the conversion to a bonus point system closer to fair for the high-point holders. I supported the amendment and this bill moved to 2nd Reading. I am not sure how I will vote on the bill in 3rd Reading.
SF0047 - Education-repeal of immunity for corporal discipline This bill would repeal a current statutory provision that provides civil and criminal immunity protection for teachers, principals, and superintendents that exercise a reasonable corporal discipline of a student authorized by a school district board of trustee policy. There was a discussion on what is considered corporal punishment, as the definition was not well defined in the bill. I have a similar concern and did not support this bill. It failed to pass the House.
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com with questions or comments. Thank you.
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