Government & Politics
News
Bill Banning Foreign Adversaries Setting Up Shop Near Critical Areas Advances
The Senate Appropriations Committee gave a unanimous thumbs up Thursday to a bill that would ban foreign adversaries from setting up near critical infrastructure in Wyoming.
Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2025
“I Apologize”: Hicks Backs Off Call-Out Of Committee Chair’s Abortion Voting Record
Wyoming Sen. Larry Hicks apologized Thursday for criticizing Sen. Eric Barlow over his voting record on abortion to keep him from being name chairman of a committee. Barlow says he won’t get caught up in “divisive rhetoric or political theater.”
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2025
Laws Making It Easier To Kick Out — Or Arrest — Squatters Sail Through Committee
Two bills that would make it easier to kick squatters out, and sometimes arrest them, sailed through a Wyoming legislative committee Thursday. The bills would let police intervene in an area of law that is typically handled in civil courts.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 16, 2025
Barrasso Looks To Trump Interior Nominee To Stop Feds From “Punishing The West”
Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum pledges to boost America’s energy supply as secretary of the Interior. During his confirmation hearing Thursday, John Barrasso implored him to stop the feds from “punishing the West.”
Sean BarryJanuary 16, 2025
Controversial Eminent Domain Bill Passes Over Protests From Ag, Energy Industries
Wyoming legislators passed a controversial eminent domain bill Thursday that would ban anyone except public utilities from using eminent domain to take land for electrical systems. Both the state’s ag and energy industries argued against it.
Renée JeanJanuary 16, 2025
Wyoming Lawmakers May Block Counties From Charging The State Property Taxes
Wyoming lawmakers may pause a state Supreme Court ruling that allows counties to charge state government property taxes. The high court ruled in October that the state can be charged for renting property for non-governmental purposes.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 16, 2025
Senate Committee OKs Bill To Make Non-Citizen Status Stand Out More On State IDs
A Wyoming Senate committee unanimously advanced a bill Thursday that will make someone’s non-citizen status stand out more on Wyoming IDs. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says it’s needed to help prevent election fraud.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2025
Barrasso Again Takes Aim At World Health Organization Over Pandemic Policies
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso introduced a bill Wednesday that could withhold U.S. money for the World Health Organization over its pandemic policies. The president and two-thirds of the Senate would have to OK any pandemic money for the group.
Sean BarryJanuary 16, 2025
Wyoming Legislature Recap — Day 2
The second day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session saw the first discussion on committee bills and Gov. Mark Gordon’s State of the State address.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2025
House Committee Unanimous On Keeping DEI Out Of Wyoming Schools
A Wyoming House committee unanimously advanced a bill Wednesday prohibiting all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) government mandates and instruction in state schools.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2025
Legislature Could Replace Traditional Roll Calls With Push-Button Voting
The House Rules and Procedure Committee passed a rule Wednesday that will set the stage for potentially using electronic, push-button voting at the Legislature. Votes are now conducted by a traditional roll call.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2025
Bills To Tighten Voter Registration In Wyoming Sail Through House Committee
Two bills that would tighten requirements to register to vote in Wyoming sailed through a House committee on Wednesday. They would require living in the state for at least 30 days and prove U.S. citizenship to vote.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 15, 2025
Harshman Introduces Bill To Build A Mount Rushmore-Type Monument In Wyoming
Rep. Steve Harshman told Cowboy State Daily that his bill to build a "Monument to America" in Wyoming would create a monument "similar in size and scope to Mount Rushmore" and feature important historical American figures.
Mark HeinzJanuary 15, 2025
House Committee Passes Wyoming’s “What Is A Woman Act” After Confrontational Testimony
Wyoming’s “What is a Woman Act” to define men and women biologically cleared its first hurdle Wednesday, passing out of a House committee. But not before the national Gays Against Groomers group took shots at Wyoming’s LGBTQ advocacy organization.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 15, 2025
Wright On Track: Trump’s Pick For Energy Secretary Headed For Confirmation
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for energy secretary, oil company executive and technology innovator Chris Wright, sailed through a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Sean BarryJanuary 15, 2025
Freshman Lawmakers Vote Down Court Program For Offenders With Mental Illness
Five freshman legislators on the Wyoming House Judiciary Committee voted down a bill Wednesday that would have given courts an option to send people who commit minor crimes into mental health treatment before they’re convicted.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 15, 2025
Gordon Asks Legislature To Not Be “Cheap, Short-Sighted” With His $692M Budget Ask
Gov. Mark Gordon urged legislators during his State of the State speech Wednesday to use common sense and not be “cheap, short-sighted” with his $692 million supplemental budget request.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 15, 2025
Wyoming Doubles Down On Wind Blade Disposal In Coal Mines, Tabling Alternative
Wyoming legislators tabled a bill Wednesday that would have created landfill deposits at wind farm sites to dispose of their worn-out turbine blades. State agencies say coal mine disposal — just approved by federal government — is better.
Renée JeanJanuary 15, 2025
Head Of Wyoming Democrats Slams GOP State Vice Chair For Racist Post
The head of the Wyoming Democratic Party is slamming as racist a post shared by state GOP Vice Chair David Holland. Holland says the post was a joke, isn’t racist and that people are too uptight about being politically correct.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 15, 2025
Governor Mark Gordon's State Of The Union
Gov. Mark Gordon is addressing the Wyoming Legislature via Wyoming PBS
January 15, 2025
Bill Would Hike Wyoming Hunting License Application Fees By 300% To 400%
Hunting license application fees could see huge increases in Wyoming, jumping 300% for Wyomingites and 400% for nonresidents under a legislative bill. Game and Fish would put that money to good use, proponents say.
Mark HeinzJanuary 15, 2025
Hageman Cheers House Passing Her Bill Banning Males In Women’s Sports
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, cheered the House passing a bill Tuesday aimed at preventing males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. She said it’s a victory over “the left’s anti-woman agenda.”
Sean BarryJanuary 15, 2025
First-Day Fireworks In Wyoming Senate Over Abortion, Pick For Committee Leader
An attempt to prevent Eric Barlow from nomination for chairman of the Senate Health, Labor and Social Services Committee sparked fireworks Tuesday on the first day of the Wyoming Legislature’s 2025 session. The attempt, based on his abortion stance, failed.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 15, 2025
Politicking Already In Full Swing As Legislature Sworn In, Begins 2025 Session
The 68th Wyoming Legislature was sworn in Tuesday, officially opening the first session for the Freedom Caucus holding a majority. And politicking is already in full swing at the state Capitol in Cheyenne.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 14, 2025