Legislative Update – Day 29 of the 2023 General Session

February 23, 2023

Day 29

OH, CANADA

After a long weekend to recharge, the 67th Legislature was back in action yesterday. Even with a long weekend to decompress, patience on the floor and in committees continue to wear thin as debates were fairly contentious.

A bright spot in the day was a visit by the General Consul of Canada, Sylvain Fabi. He took the opportunity to speak to both chambers yesterday morning. His message was positive and brought about a sense of pride, respect, and togetherness between our State and Canada. He spoke of our collaboration when it comes to issues such as national security and mineral exploration, and he reaffirmed the excellent working relationship that Wyoming and Canada enjoy.

 We are to a point in the session where bill signings will be happening frequently by Governor Gordon. They are wonderful occasions and celebrate the hard work of dozens, if not hundreds of people. The WBA will be at many of the bill signings, so we encourage you to attend if you desire!

We will see another full slate of bills in committee and on the floor today as the Friday deadline for bills out of committee in the second chamber looms. The WBA will be there reminding our leaders that Business Makes Wyoming Better!

 

Tuesday, Feb. 21st (Day 29)

Senate Revenue Committee

  • HB0098 – Property tax-homeowner’s exemption (WBA MONITORING). – Bill failed to pass the Committee.
  • HB0124 – Electricity generation-taxation (WBA OPPOSED). – Bill failed to pass the Committee.

Senate Appropriations Committee

  • HB0099 – Property tax refund program (WBA MONITORING). – Bill passed the Committee

House Revenue Committee

  • SF0151 – Wyoming prescription drug transparency act (WBA OPPOSED). – Bill passed the committee.

Senate Floor

  • HB0100 – Acquisition value study (WBA MONITORING). – Bill passed Third Reading.
  • HB0081 – Hospital supplemental payments-statutory fix (WBA SUPPORTS). – Bill passed Second Reading.
  • HB0033 – School finance-career technical education grants (WBA SUPPORTS) – Bill passed the Committee of the Whole.

House Floor

  • SF0084 – Education-model student attendance policies (WBA MONITORING). – Bill failed Third Reading.
  • HB0100 – Acquisition value study (WBA MONITORING). – Bill passed Concurrence.
  • SF0097 – Education trust fund transfer (WBA MONITORING). – Bill passed the Committee of the Whole

 

Bills the WBA is Closely Monitoring

We will update our bill trackers daily as bills are posted to the LSO website and as action is taken on bills. The trackers include hyperlinks to the individual bills as well as the WBA’s position on those pieces of legislation. The WBA’s positions are taken in accordance with our official process.

If you would like more information about a bill position or to request a position on a bill, please reach out to Cindy DeLancey to begin the committee review process.

Legislative Tracker

Tax Bill Tracker

Bills Scheduled for

Wednesday, Feb. 22nd (Day 30)

Livestream video from the floor and committees via the Legislature’s YouTube Channel. This listing below only includes bills WBA is tracking.

Wednesday, Feb. 22nd (Day 30) Committee Hearings

Senate Education, 8:00 AM, State Capitol, Room W110

  • HB0034 – School finance-mental health services (WBA MONITORING).

Senate Revenue, Upon Noon Recess, Capitol Extension, Room W006 & Online 

  • HB0121 – Property tax deferral program-amendments (WBA MONITORING).

House Labor, Health & Social Services, 8:30 AM, Capitol Extension, Room E003 & Online 

  • SF0147 – Government contracts-labor organization (WBA MONITORING).

House Education, Upon Noon Recess, Capitol Extension, Room E003 & Online

  • SF0132 – Study of K-12 education program (WBA MONITORING).

House Appropriations, Upon Noon Recess, State Capitol, Room E301 & Online 

  • SF0142 – Carbon capture and sequestration (WBA SUPPORTS).

Wednesday, Feb. 22nd (Day 30) Floor Sessions

Senate Floor Session Begins at 10:00 AM on Feb. 22nd

 HB0081 – Hospital supplemental payments-statutory fix (WBA SUPPORTS). – Third Reading

  • HB0033 – School finance-career technical education grants (WBA SUPPORTS) – Second Reading
  • HB0003 – State assessment of independent power producers (WBA SUPPORTS). – General File
  • HB0190 – Wyoming value added energy and industrial plan (WBA MONITORING). – General File
  • HB0099 – Property tax refund program (WBA MONITORING). – General File
  • HB0140 – Mental Health care Access-Collaborative Care Model (WBA SUPPORTS). – General File

House Floor Session Begins at 10:00 AM on Feb. 22nd

  • SF0097 – Education trust fund transfer (WBA MONITORING). – Second Reading
  • SJ0003 – Property tax exemption for the elderly and infirm (WBA MONITORING). – General File

    2023 WBA Legislative Priorities

     

WBA’s Guiding Principles: Business Makes Wyoming Better. The Wyoming Business Alliance supports public policy and legislation that enhances a sound business environment and promotes economic diversification. We do not support adding regulatory barriers or additional burdens on business in Wyoming.

WBA members support the following:

  • Supporting legislation and budget items that promote modernization and efficiency in government, education, and promote workforce development.
  • Supporting legislation that incentivizes investment to broaden Wyoming’s tax base.
  • Supporting legislation that encourages enhanced production of natural resources.
  • Promoting certainty and clarity of current and future tax policy for all industries.

Other Session Information

  • Bills
  • Legislator contacts: LSO web page
  • Schedule: The Session is scheduled to run 37 business days, Jan. 10th – March 3rd. Download full schedule
  • Standing Committee Handouts: In the event you would like to send a handout to either chamber Floor or a Committee, make sure to email the completed handout form with your documents to each member of the chamber or committee and also send it to legdocs@wyoleg.gov. Please be sure to include all of the information asked for on the form. Committee members and their e-mail addresses can be found here.
  • Daily floor calendars/meeting schedules: Sign up here.
  • Online Hotline: During the legislative session, you can recommend support for or opposition to a particular piece of legislation by using the Online Hotline. Learn more here.

Additional Articles

Lincoln County Update via Southwest Wyoming Manufacturing Partnership

March 24, 2023

Silver Star Communications, a leading telecommunications company, has extended its support to the Southwest Wyoming Manufacturing Partnership (SWMP) by setting up meetings with Lincoln County School District #2 and Lower Valley Energy. The aim of these meetings is to foster collaboration between the SWMP and organizations in North Lincoln County creating opportunities for mutual growth […] Read More

Help Wyoming Families Keep Health Insurance

March 16, 2023

Help Wyoming Families Keep Health Insurance Thousands of families enrolled in Wyoming Medicaid will lose their health insurance this year when eligibility reviews take place, but free assistance is available to help them keep health coverage. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, folks enrolled in the Wyoming Medicaid program did not have to reenroll […] Read More

14th Annual Neighborhood Forest free tree program - Registration Open through March 15

February 28, 2023

Dear Parent or Guardian, We are celebrating Earth Week (Earth Day – April 22 | Neighborhood Forest Day – April 26 | Arbor Day – April 28) this spring by participating in the 14th Annual Neighborhood Forest free tree program, whose aim is to provide free trees to kids every spring. Since 2010, Neighborhood Forest […] Read More