Wyoming’s Legislature ended the first week of its budget session Friday with a deadline for the introduction of bills to be considered during the budget session.
During a budget session, a non-budget bill needs to collect the votes of two-thirds of the House or Senate to be considered. Any bill not introduced by Friday will not be considered this year.
Among the bills making their way through the process:
HB 28, which would prevent government entities at any level from using public money to conduct “gun buybacks.”
HB 44, the bill that would put Wyoming on Standard Time throughout the year if the federal government approved the change and four surrounding states did the same.
HB 134, imposing a statewide lodging tax of 5 percent.
SF 42, 50 and 52, which bring Wyoming into compliance with new federal rules banning the sale of tobacco to those under 21.
A number of high-profile bills also failed to gain introduction in the Legislature’s first week.
Among those bills:
HB 75, which would have extended Medicaid coverage in the state to an estimated additional 19,000 people at a cost to the state of about $18 million in the first two years.
SF 6, a proposed toll on travelers on Interstate 80. Money raised would be used on highway maintenance.
SF 80, proposing a three-day waiting period between the time a person buys a handgun and the time he or she can take possession of it.
SF 88 would have repealed all of Wyoming’s gun-free zones.
HB 66 proposed an end to Wyoming’s death penalty.
HB 63 proposed a 3-cent per gallon increase in taxes on gasoline, bringing the total state taxes to 27 cents per gallon.
Several bills that promised to generate considerable discussion were not voted on for introduction, including bills proposing a personal income tax and a corporate income tax.
