Government & Politics
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Bill That Forbids Teaching Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity In Wyoming Schools Advances
The "Wyoming Parental Rights in Education Act" advanced Friday to the Senate floor. Detractors say the bill squelches speech and marginalizes LGBTQ families, while proponents say the bill upholds everyones values by leaving the teaching of those topics at home with families.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2023
Supporters Say Bill Will Help Wyoming Lead The Nation In Digital Asset Registration
Wyoming lawmakers deliberated at length Thursday on a proposal that establishes a structure for registering digital property with the Secretary of State, a process that is not yet available anywhere else.
Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2023
Bill: Wyoming Banks Can’t Be Sued For Freezing Accounts If Fraud Against Elderly, Disabled Suspected
If it passes the Wyoming Legislature, Senate File 24 would protect banks from being sued for freezing peoples assets briefly if they believe a vulnerable adult is being exploited.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2023
Gov. Gordon Tests Positive For COVID, Will Work From Home
Wyoming Gov Mark Gordon announced on Friday that he has tested positive for Covid. He sad the symptoms are minor and will work from home.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2023
House Committee Passes Medicaid Expansion, But Not For Gender Surgeries
An effort to expand Medicaid in Wyoming cleared its first hurdle but not before Rep. John Bear added an amendment to the bill that stipulates no state money could be used for transgender surgical operations.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Two Bills Would Make Concealed Carry Permits Legal Identification To Vote In Wyoming
State Sen Lynn Hutchings told Cowboy State Daily that when she arrived at a polling place to vote, she realized she had no form of identification besides her concealed-carry permit. She said, "I'm a state legislator. I'm going to fix that."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Rep. John Bear Remark About Guatemalans Landing In Gillette Sparks Refugee Rumor
A comment state Rep. John Bear made on Thursday morning that dozens of Guatemalans were on a flight that landed in Gillette on Wednesday night has stoked the political rumor mill at the Capitol that it was an influx of refugees.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Bill Would Pay Teton County Judges A $1,900 Monthly Housing Allowance
A proposed law that would give judges in Wyomings richest county a $1,900 monthly housing allowance is still alive but detractors worry judges could turn a profit using public funds on their appreciating houses.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2023
Child Marriage Bill Survives But Some Argue Restricting Teen Marriage Is Removing Freedoms
Addressing marriage age is an exercise in establishing Wyomings state rights, says House Bill 7 sponsor Rep. Dan Zwonitzer. Others argued the state should butt out as marriage is a contract between a man, a woman and their God.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 19, 2023
Hageman Warns U.S. Heading For Fiscal Cliff, Says Legislators Must Fight For Coal, Oil & Gas
U.S. Rep Harriet Hageman on Wednesday told Wyoming legislators that the U.S. is heading for a "fiscal cliff" and it was important that they continue to fight for coal, oil, and gas.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Sen. Charlie Scott Says Shotgun Is Good Way To Deal With Annoying Drones
Sens. Charlie Scott and Lynn Hutchings on Wednesday said there should be a provision in the drone bill that would allow a landowner to shoot down drones that are trespassing over private property.
Mark HeinzJanuary 19, 2023
Chuck Gray Gets Another Win As Committee Strikes Down Bill Changing How Vacancies Are Filled
Sec of State Chuck Gray lobbied against a bill that would have required special elections to fill seats of elected officials if more than half of a term remained. The legislative committee rejected the bill by a 5-3 vote.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Wyoming Lawmakers Work To Tighten Digital Asset Security
Private cryptographic keys cant be changed, which creates a problem for legal processes that Wyoming is working to solve. House Bill 86 will prevent a court from compelling through discovery the invisible code that makes up a private cryptographic key.
Renée JeanJanuary 19, 2023
Realtor: Hobbyists Who Buy “Cheap Drones At Wal-Mart” Causing Problems For Legit Drone Operators
In a legislative committee meeting on Wednesday, the president of the Wyoming Realtors association said commercial drone operators are well-behaved. It's the "hobbyists who buy cheap drones at Wal-Mart and fly them over their neighbors properties," who are causing all the problems, he said.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023
Wyoming Community Colleges Can’t Ask For Inflation Fund Adjustment After Bill Fails
State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz said the Senate is already "very receptive" to giving community colleges more money so there doesn't need to be another mechanism for requesting public funds.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2023
Casper Legislator’s Covid Bill Would Also Prohibit Required Vaccines For Polio, Measles, Mumps
Although Rep. Ward said her Covid bill which would also prohibit required vaccines for polio, measles, mumps and other infectious diseases is a way to prioritize the rights of individuals, physicians said it would put Wyoming "back a few centuries."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023
State Sen. Says Mother Was ‘Severely Mistreated’ In Boarding School That Forcibly Assimilated Native Americans
State Sen. Affie Ellis told a committee on Wednesday morning that her mother was "severely mistreated" when attending a boarding school that sought to assimilate her into a non-native culture. Ellis' bill would uphold tribal sovereignty over child members.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2023
Wyoming Law Enforcement Says Steering Wheel With Keyboard Invention Is Horrible Idea
Wyoming law enforcement officials say a steering wheel with a keyboard attached is a horrible idea and recommend not using one. The inventor of the product tried to raise $10 million to produce but killed the effort after no one donated any money to it.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 18, 2023
Perhaps Largest Group Ever, Freshman Lawmakers May Hold Real Political Power In Wyoming
With 34 first-year members of the 67th Legislature nearly 37% of the 93-member body freshman legislators have potential to be the most influential first-term class in Wyoming history, but they will have to come together to make that happen.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023
Bill Would Remove 75% – 25% Preference Point System For “Big 5” Trophy Game Species
Wyomings trophy species hunters sometimes wait decades before drawing a once-in-a-lifetime tag -- if they draw one at all. Senate File 88 would reform the drawing process and could give younger hunters a chance, proponents say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023
Bill Empowering Game Wardens To Ticket For Criminal Trespass Advances To Senate Floor
Although there were concerns that a bill empowering Wyoming game wardens to bust trespassers was an attempt to "back-door"restrictions on corner crossing, those fears appear to have been alleviated as Senate File 56 was passed out of committee to the senate floor on Tuesday.
Mark HeinzJanuary 18, 2023
Former Deputy Sec Of State Karen Wheeler Ain’t Done Yet, Joins Superintendent’s Office
Former Deputy Secretary of State Karen Wheeler is joining the Superintendent of Public Instruction's office. Wheeler, an icon in state government had worked at the secretary of state's office for 37 years.
Jimmy OrrJanuary 18, 2023
Ambiguous Federal Regs On Digital An Opportunity For Wyoming, Says State Senator
Nearly 500 decentralized autonomous organizations have registered in the Cowboy State since Wyoming rolled out the red carpet for digital asset companies. They are providing revenue to the state and more opportunity, according to Sen. Chris Rothfuss.
Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2023
Fremont County GOP Unsuccessful In Censuring Lummis Over Same-Sex Marriage Vote
A movement by some Fremont County Republican Party leaders to publicly condemn U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis for supporting same-sex marriage legislation failed Saturday, as did two votes to send her strongly worded letters.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 17, 2023