Government & Politics
News

Bill Would Allow Treeing Of Mountain Lions With Dogs Even After Filling Hunting Tags
Letting Wyoming hunters to keep pursuing mountain lions with hounds, even after theyve filled their hunting tags, would help keep the hounds well-trained and condition the big cats to avoid people and livestock, say proponents of a bill that would allow it.
Mark HeinzJanuary 26, 2023

“It’s A New Form Of Discrimination”: Foster Parents Dispute Native-First Custody Law
While some Wyoming legislators push to codify the Indian Child Welfare Act on a state level in case the federal law is overturned, several foster moms say the law discriminates against the very children it was designed to protect by denying them permanent homes.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 26, 2023

Wyoming Closer To Being First State With Its Own Cryptocurrency; Gordon Doesn’t Like It Though
Sen. Chris Rothfuss expressed frustration with a member of Gov Gordon's staff on Wednesday after she said the governor still had concerns with a cryptocurrency bill. Rothfuss said the governor's office was "moving the goalposts."
Renée JeanJanuary 26, 2023

Wyoming House Re-Establishes 988 Suicide Call Center Trust Fund – With A $0 Balance
The Wyoming State House added an amendment to legislation on Wednesday morning that would allow private individuals and nonprofits to help fund state-run 988 suicide call centers in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 26, 2023

The Roadhouse Law: Bill Would Allow Use Of Force To Remove Criminal Trespassers
Although House Bill 126 wouldn't turn every trespassing situation into a Roadhouse movie, it would strengthen trespass law to allow physical force to remove trespassers.
Mark HeinzJanuary 26, 2023

Hageman On Committee That Will Investigate FBI, Social Media Tech Giants
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman was chosen for a committee on Tuesday that will allow her to fulfill some of her campaign promises to investigate the federal government and its dealings.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 26, 2023

Wyoming Senate Green-Lights Lower Property Taxes; Housing Allowance For Judges
The Wyoming State Senate passed two bills Tuesday: one would grant property tax relief and another would give a housing allowance to state judges.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 26, 2023

Wyoming Lawmakers Flush Attempt At Corporate Transparency
Senate File 93, which would have required disclosing the identify of a trust owning an LLC, has been narrowly defeated in a Wyoming legislative committee.
Renée JeanJanuary 26, 2023

Legislative Committee Moves Forward With Bill Protecting Reporters From Revealing Sources
A legislative committee on Wednesday advanced a media shield law by an 8 - 1 vote that would protect journalists in Wyoming from revealing their sources. Wyoming is one of only two states without a shield law.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023

Wyoming Freedom Caucus Wants State Attorney General To Take Stance On Social Credit Scores
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus wants Attorney General Bridget Hill to come out against social credit scores. They said Bridget Hill should "take a stand and protect Wyoming's extractive industries and way of life."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023

Gordon Says No Problems With Guatemalans In Gillette; Rep. Bear Not Convinced
Gov. Mark Gordons office found nothing to confirm Rep. John Bears concerns that potentially undocumented Guatemalans had landed in Wyoming. Bear wants a further investigation.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023

Helicopter Hunter Who Uses M-16s To Gun Down Hogs Says Night Vision For Killing Coyotes Necessary
Blasting feral hogs with the help of night vision scopes from helicopters is highly effective in Texas, said a Cheyenne man who is advocating for the use of night vision in Wyoming to help with the control of coyotes.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2023

Sec Of State Chuck Gray Actively Lobbying Legislature; Rep Calls It ‘Uncouth” & “Unstately”
Although Chuck Grays active legislative lobbying has surprised some people, it doesn't infringe on any state laws and many legislators have no problem with it. The longest serving member of the House, however, calls it "uncouth" and "unstately."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023

Wyoming Hunters Call Out Fake ‘No Trespassing’ Signs On Public Land
People have been planting fake no trespassing signs on public land and trying to chase hunters away. A new bill would qualify that as "hunter harassment"l and punishable by fines up to $10,000 for the first offense and up to $50,000 for subsequent offenses.
Mark HeinzJanuary 25, 2023

Cheyenne Airport Canceling All Of Its Flights Again For More Runway Construction
It's deja-vu all over again at the Cheyenne airport. All flights have been canceled from April to September in order to work on the runway again.
Renée JeanJanuary 24, 2023

Wyoming Lawmakers Move To Regulate Gaming, Industry Doesn’t Want ‘To Look Like Montana’
Skill-based games are age-restricted in Wyoming, and are something the industry itself has told state lawmakers should be limited to adult locations truck stops, bars and smoke shops. Senate File 41 would accomplish that and was advanced last week.
Renée JeanJanuary 24, 2023

No New Trial For Admitted Pedophile, Wyoming Supreme Court Rules
A 57-year-old Gillette man serving life in prison for sexually abusing a 7-year-old boy claimed his jury convicted him because hes a pedophile, not for actually committing an act of sexual abuse.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 24, 2023

Google Maps Still Sending Drivers To Unmaintained Dirt Roads During Blizzards
It's still not fixed. Last month, nine motorists got stranded in a blizzard in Sweetwater County after their navigation systems directed them to unmaintained dirt roads in the middle of nowhere.
Jimmy OrrJanuary 23, 2023

Bouchard Introduces Bill That Would Ban Child Sex Change Surgeries In Wyoming
State Sen. Anthony Bouchard has introduced a bill that would make it illegal for doctors to perform sex change treatments on minors and insurance companies from covering them. "Chloe's Law," is named for a woman who transitioned to a man and now regrets it.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 23, 2023

Bill Would Let Hunters Use Night Vison To Kill Coyotes On Public Land
Allowing coyote hunters to use night vision on public land would give them the same rights predator hunters already have in numerous states, proponents of bill to do so said. Others had concerns over the safety of the practice.
Mark HeinzJanuary 22, 2023

Bill Would Prohibit Former Legislators From Immediately Becoming Lobbyists With 2-Year Wait Period
There are at least three lobbyists at the Capitol this session who were still elected members of the Wyoming Legislature less than two weeks ago. A bill has been introduced that would require legislators to cool off for two years before becoming lobbyists.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2023

Legislature Pulls Trust-Fund Support For Suicide Call Centers
State Rep. Landon Brown said carving out the $46 million trust fund from a bill establishing the national 988 suicide call center program in Wyoming was the bill's best chance to pass.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023

Watered-Down Vax Bill Advances; Drops Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella Language
A previous version of the bill prohibited all vaccine mandates for COVID-19 and any other infectious virus or disease. This would have included other diseases like measles, mumps, polio and rubella.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023

Committee Kills Ranked Choice Voting For Wyoming
Citing ballot exhaustion, costs and potential to confuse voters, a Wyoming House committee killed a proposal that would have allowed state municipalities to test ranked choice voting.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023
