Government & Politics
News
Hageman: Congressional Approval Needed If Biden Further Attempts To End Fossil Fuels
President Joe Biden has been making good on a campaign promise to end oil and gas production in the U.S. Wyoming Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hagemans first bill supports legislation brought by U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis to require Congressional approval for such moves.
February 14, 2023
Effort To Allow Chuck Gray To Disqualify Election Equipment Fails
A discussion about certifying federal election equipment Monday became more a debate about Secretary of State Chuck Gray and what his office should and should not have authority to do.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2023
Blasting Coyotes With Night Vision Scopes On Public Land Closer As Bill Clears Both Houses
A bill that would allow the use of spotlights, night vision, and infrared equipment to assist hunters in blowing up coyotes on public land moved one step closer. The bill passed the House last month and was approved by the Senate on Monday.
Mark HeinzFebruary 13, 2023
‘Roadhouse’ Trespassing Bill For Bars Was Doing Fine Until It Morphed Into An Outdoors Trespassing Bill
A Roadhouse Bill that would have allowed for using reasonable physical force to remove trespassers from places like bars -- just like Patrick Swayze -- lost traction and died when the focus of the law shifted toward how to deal with trespassing hunters.
Mark HeinzFebruary 13, 2023
Wyoming Will Continue Cloud Seeding Program After Effort To Nix Program Fails
An effort to eliminate Wyoming's $1.1 million cloud seeding program was voted down by the Wyoming Senate on Monday. Detractors say there is little proof cloud-seeding works.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2023
Committee Kills Bill Making It Harder For Sex Offenders To Get Off Wyoming Registry
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday killed a bill that aimed to let fewer sex offenders get erased from the sex offender registry, because the bill's language was confusing.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2023
Want Alternative COVID Medications? Not In Wyoming, Says Senate Committee
Legislation that would have allowed doctors and pharmacists to dispense off-label prescriptions -- like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin for COVID -- without concern of recourse from medical oversight agencies died in a Senate committee on Monday morning.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2023
Now More Than Ever, Wyoming Legislature Is Seeing Red
This years session of the Wyoming Legislature is showing a more dramatic turn to becoming even more conservative. A growing faction of more conservative Republicans is pushing election reform, COVID-19 anti-discrimination and other agenda issues farther than before.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2023
Lummis Condemned By Wyoming Republican State Central Committee on Saturday
The Wyoming Republican State Central Committee on Saturday condemned Sen. Cynthia Lummis for her vote in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act last November.
Jimmy OrrFebruary 12, 2023
Bill Making It Easier To Throw Axes, Rope Chickens While Drinking Alcohol In Wyoming Almost Law
A bill that would make expand the number of liquor licenses available to include businesses which offer axe-throwing and chicken-roping has passed the House and Senate and is just one step away from hitting Gov. Gordon's desk.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2023
Oops! Wyo State Rep Apologizes After Saying “Don’t Get Your Panties In A Wad” on House Floor
Legislative proceedings on Friday stopped right after Rep. Pendergraft said people were "getting their panties in a wad" over a bill changing the Wyoming driver's license. The gallery groaned and Pendergraft offered an immediate apology.
Jimmy OrrFebruary 10, 2023
Wyoming Drone Pilot Says Angry Resident Threatened To Turn Dogs On Him
One commercial drone pilot who testified against an intrusive drone bill on Friday said an angry Green River citizen told him his drone was "pissing her dogs off" and she warned him to land the drone or she would turn the dogs loose on him.
Mark HeinzFebruary 10, 2023
Wyoming Senate Takes Rare Mid-Session Day Off Friday
With the state Senate ahead of the House in considering proposed legislation, the body took a day off Friday. State Sen. Charles Scott said this is the first time that's happened in the 44 years that he has served in the Legislature.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 10, 2023
Shoshone Tribe Seeks Alcohol License For Casino, Would Be Only One On Reservation
Though the Wind River Indian Reservation has been "dry" for decades, the Eastern Shoshone Tribe is attempting to gain a liquor license. It would be the only one on the reservation.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 10, 2023
Wyoming Republican Party ‘Alerts’ Members Against Child Marriage Bill
The Wyoming GOP dispatched an outside analysis condemning House Bill 7, which would ban all marriages for children younger than 16; the analysis argued that children who get pregnant should be allowed to marry with a judge's permission.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 10, 2023
Wyoming House Speaker Makes Emotional Plea For Elderly Fraud Victims
While debating a proposed law that would let banks intervene if they suspect elderly or disabled customers are being scammed, House Speaker Rep. Albert Sommers was tearful in relating the story of a vulnerable Wyomingite who was forced to live in dog poop while family members spent that person's money on drugs.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 10, 2023
Wyoming Senate OKs $1.2 Million For Pro-Coal Litigation
$1.2 million to sue Washington state in defense of Wyoming coal interests has gone unspent, so the governor wants to expand how else it can be used to support the industry.
February 10, 2023
Fake ‘No Trespassing’ Sign Bill One Step Closer To Law After Committee Approval
A bill that would make false no trespassing signs tantamount to hunter harassment took a key step forward Thursday with a Wyoming legislative committee voting unanimously to forward it to the full Senate
Mark HeinzFebruary 10, 2023
Chuck Gray’s Crossover Voting Bill Gets Shot Down By Committee
The last bill still alive in the Wyoming Legislature that would have eliminated crossover voting failed Thursday in a Senate committee, dashing the chances of Secretary of State Chuck Gray to make good on one of his main campaign promises.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 09, 2023
Bill Banning Teens Younger Than 16 To Marry Passes Unanimously Through Senate Committee
Despite its rocky travels through the Wyoming House of Representatives, a bill forbidding people ages 15 and younger to marry unanimously passed its first state Senate committee meeting.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 09, 2023
Wyoming State Rep. Says No Truth To Ethics Complaint
State Rep. Jon Conrad said of an ethics complaint against him that there is nothing to the complaint and it is politically motivated.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 09, 2023
Wyoming House Passes Extension Of Medicaid Postpartum Coverage To 1 Year
A bill extending postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to a year in Wyoming passed through the state House of Representatives on Wednesday by a 34-28 vote. It will now go to the Senate.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 09, 2023
House Kills Effort To Exempt Wyoming From CDC COVID-19 Regs
A bill that would have prevented Wyoming from following World Health Organization and Centers For Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for COVID-19 restrictions died on a close 32-29 vote on the House floor Wednesday afternoon.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 08, 2023
Without Commercial Exemption, Wyoming Drone Trespass Bill Won’t Pass, Critics say
An exemption for business and commercial drone use must be written into a bill proposing to make trespassing by drone a criminal offense or it will never get off the ground, lobbyists told Wyoming lawmakers Wednesday.
Mark HeinzFebruary 08, 2023