Government & Politics
News
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
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