Government & Politics
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House Advances Bill Giving Political Parties More Say In Filling Vacancies
The House Appropriations Committee, by a 6 - 1 margin, advanced a bill on Thursday that would give local and state political parties more power in filling political vacancies in Wyoming
Leo WolfsonFebruary 06, 2025
Bills To Ban Voting Machines Killed In Committee
Two bills that would’ve banned voting machines and mandate hand count elections in Wyoming were rejected by Senate and House committees on Wednesday night. Legislators cited costs and vulnerabilities as reasons for striking the bills down.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 06, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap - Day 17
Discussion of the supplemental budget was a major focus of the Wyoming Legislature on Wednesday, as were two bills that could ban abortion in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 06, 2025
Halfway Point: New Conservative Majority vs Old Guard Minority In 2025 Legislative Session
The 2025 Wyoming legislative session will reach its halfway mark on Thursday. The session looks and feels distinctly different from years’ past, with a majority made of Freedom Caucus Republicans, wielding power in the House for the first time.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 06, 2025
Wyoming Republicans Taking New Approach To Trying To Ban Abortion
The Wyoming Legislature considered two different bills on Wednesday that take new approaches in trying to ban abortions. The Legislature passed two separate bans on most forms of abortion in 2022 and 2023 but both are currently being held up in court.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 06, 2025
Wyoming Delegation Applauds Trump's Trans Athlete Ban
Wyoming's congressional delegation cheered President Donald Trump's Wednesday executive order defunding schools that let males play female-only sports. ”The far left’s attack on female athletes is the women’s rights issue of our time,” Sen. Lummis said.
Sean Barry & Clair McFarlandFebruary 05, 2025
Huge Immigration Bill Gets A Makeover; Wyoming Sheriffs Still Hesitant
A Senate committee proposed changes Tuesday to a massive Wyoming immigration bill that would make sheltering or transporting illegal immigrant a felony, among other mandates. The state's law enforcers can work within the new version, but they'd "hesitate" to say they support it, their lobbyist said.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 05, 2025
House Advances Bill To Make Wyoming Attorney General An Elected Position
The House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill on Wednesday, by a 6 - 3 margin, that would make the Wyoming Attorney General an elected position. Supporters of the bill have criticized Wyoming AG Bridget Hill for either taking too long to file lawsuits or not filing enough.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 05, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 16
Day 16 of the 2025 Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday featured passionate debates on Second Amendment protections and state license plates. It also saw the Senate pass a 50% cut to property taxes.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 05, 2025
Degenfelder Hopes Trump Will Eliminate U.S. Dept Of Education
Wyoming Superintendent Of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that she hopes President Trump eliminates the U.S. Dept of Education. States should determine their own rules for federal funding, she said.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 05, 2025
Wyoming License Plates Would Be Mailed, Not Redone Every 8 Years Under Proposal
State legislators are considering a bill that would not require a redesign of license plates every eight years. That means you can keep your plates until they wear out. Also, people would get them via mail, not their county treasurers.
Renée JeanFebruary 05, 2025
Hageman Supports Trump’s Crackdown On “Insidious Organization” USAID
Rep. Harriet Hageman says she supports President Trump’s crackdown to cut the fund for the U.S. Agency for International Development. She calls USAID an “insidious organization” that has supported terrorism.
Sean BarryFebruary 05, 2025
Dueling Gun Groups Strike Truce To Push Wyoming Second Amendment Rights Bill
A pair of gun rights groups in Wyoming that have feuded over state Second Amendment legislation have struck a brief truce. Gun Owners of America and Wyoming Gun Owners are both pushing a bill that would ban state officials from enforcing federal gun laws.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 05, 2025
Senate Passes 50% Property Tax Cut, Would Be Largest In Wyoming History
The Wyoming Senate passed a property tax bill Tuesday that at a 50% cut would be the largest in state history. Opponents say not providing money to replace that revenue will devastate communities, while supporters say it’s a true tax cut.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
“Threw Me Under The Bus”: Park County Clerk Says Rep. Wrong About 2020 Ballots
The Park County Clerk says state Rep. Ken Pendergraft “threw me under the bus” last week when he told a legislative committee she “prematurely” destroyed 2020 election ballots. The clerk was legally allowed to, but he says he stands by the accusation.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Cowboy State Daily Conversations With Legislative Leaders: Scott Heiner
VIDEO: Cowboy State Daily's State Politics Reporter Leo Wolfson catches up with Majority Floor Leader Scott Heiner, R-Green River, to learn more about what got him into politics and his vision for the future of the House under the Wyoming Freedom Caucus majority.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Bill Banning Suspicious Drones Over Critical Wyoming Infrastructure Advances
The Wyoming Senate is considering a bill criminalizing drone operators from loitering and photographing over critical infrastructure. A legislative committee voted unanimously Tuesday to send the bill to the Senate floor.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 04, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 15
The 15th day of the Wyoming Legislature saw extended debate on many controversial topics like sex books in school libraries and transgender sports bans.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Tariff Trade War On Hold With Mexico, Canada; Wyoming Lawmakers Declare Victory
Monday was a tumultuous day for the stock market, but Trump walked away with some big concessions from Canada and Mexico — just as Wyoming lawmakers predicted he would.
Renée JeanFebruary 04, 2025
In Brief: Bill To Regulate Out-Of-State Fishing Passes House
A bill intended to prevent Wyoming’s prized fishing waters from being mobbed by out-of-state guides passed the Wyoming House on Monday and is headed for the Senate.
Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025
Shooting Complex Budget Swells To $19.5M, Including $3.5M More From State
The anticipated budget for a “world-class” shooting complex near Cody, Wyoming, is up from $10 million to $19.5 million, including another $3.5 million from the state.
Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025
Legislative Committee Kills “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” Bill
Fearing it could actually lead to more federal regulation, a Wyoming Senate committee killed the “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” bill. It would have cut low-carbon energy standards in the state and treated CO2 as a nutrient, not a pollutant.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Wyomingites Could Concealed Carry In All 50 States Under Bills Trump Favors
Wyomingites might be able to carry concealed firearms in all 50 states, if Trump-backed legislation passes Congress. A pair of bills making their way through Congress would make concealed carry permits valid in all states.
Mark HeinzFebruary 04, 2025
Montana GOP Pushes To Display Ten Commandments At Public Schools
Debate is heating up in the Montana Legislature over a bill that would require putting the Ten Commandments in every classroom in the state. Republicans are pushing the bill, while Native Americans want to include the “Indian Ten Commandments.”
David MadisonFebruary 03, 2025