Government & Politics
News
Senate Will Consider Bill Banning Some Sex Offenders From Working Around Teens
Wyoming Senator Affie Ellis is sponsoring a bill that would ban some sex offenders from working or volunteering at teen hangouts, such as fast-food restaurants and arcades.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 19, 2024
Handful Of Property Tax Bills Advance, Including 5% Cap On Year-To-Year Hikes
The House Revenue Committee advanced a handful of property tax relief measures Friday, including one that would cap year-to-year tax increases at 5%.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 17, 2024
Bills To Give $300,000 To Solve Wyoming Cold Case Crimes Pass Committee
A pair of bills that would give the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation $300,000 to focus on solving cold case crimes were passed by the Judicial Committee on Friday.
Jen KocherFebruary 16, 2024
Bill To Empower Governor To Challenge BLM Rock Springs Plan Passes Committee
The Wyoming House Judiciary Committee voted Friday to advance a bill that would allow the governor to refuse to provide any resources to help enforce any federal land policy deemed to be against Wyoming’s best interests.
Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2024
Wyoming Caucus Blasts Freedom Caucus Republicans For Killing Firearms Bill
Rep. Barry Crago blasted the Freedom Caucus on Friday for voting against a bill aimed to protect Wyomingites from being tracked for buying and owning firearms. "The same legislators who claim to be principled staunch advocates for the Second Amendment then turn around and vote against it," he said.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
Freedom Caucus Blasts 19 Republicans For Killing Bill To Define Genders
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus went on the offensive Thursday after 19 Republicans voted to kill a bill that officially defines what it is to be “female” and “male” in Wyoming as a person’s biological sex at birth.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
$40 Million For Suicide Hotline Trust Fund Bill Advances By 1 Vote
A proposal to put $40 million into a trust fund for Wyoming’s two 988 suicide hotline centers squeaked through the House for introduction Thursday, just barely meeting the two-thirds threshold to advance.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
Bills Repealing Gun-Free Zones & Lowering Age Of Concealed Carry In Wyoming Reignite Familiar Debate
Wyoming legislators and advocates on both sides of the gun policy debate will cover familiar ground this legislative session with pending bills calling for the repeal of “gun-free zones” and lowering the legal age for concealed carry to 18.
Mark HeinzFebruary 15, 2024
Laramie Democrat Introduces Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana
State Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, has introduced a bill to decriminalize marijuana in Wyoming. The likelihood of it passing is about zero for political reasons and the much higher threshold of getting a non-budget bill through a budget session.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2024
On-Again, Off-Again Plan To Charge Casper Landlords For Unpaid Utilities Off Again
After approving two readings of an ordinance that would make landlords responsible for unpaid utility bills to help recover $700,000 to $800,000 a year in losses, the Casper City Council is having second thoughts.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 15, 2024
Freedom Caucus, House Dems Team Up To Kill Bill Outlawing Child Sex Changes
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus and five House Democrats formed an unexpected alliance Wednesday to torpedo a bill that would have prevented minors from receiving transgender surgeries in most scenarios in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2024
With Abortion In Wyoming Already In Court, New Bills Aim To Restrict It More
A handful of bills being considered in the 2024 legislative session aim to restrict, regulate or continue access to abortions in Wyoming, while its legal status continues to be fought in the courts.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2024
Wyoming Senate Committee Passes Bill Requiring Parents To Opt-In For Kids' School Health Services
A bill that instructs Wyoming public schools to notify parents about changes to the health status of their children, including help in gender-transitioning, passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday morning.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
With Alcohol-Involved Crimes Up, Casper Councilmember Says It’s ‘Our Way Of Life’
As the city’s police chief briefed the Casper City Council that alcohol-related crimes are on the rise, Councilmember Gena Jensen said there may be a reason for that: Drinking in Wyoming is “our way of life.”
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 14, 2024
Bill Calls For $50 Million For Wyoming To Sue Feds Over Land Use Policy
Wyoming should set aside $50 million, earmarked for lawsuits against the federal government when federal policy hurts Wyoming’s interest, legislators say.
Mark HeinzFebruary 14, 2024
Wyoming Outdoor Rec Fund Gets $6M Every Two Years, But No Way To Manage It
The Legislature is considering ways to pay out $6 million in grants for outdoor recreation and tourism. A Senate bill to do that failed by 3 votes Monday. Now it’s up to the House.
Renée JeanFebruary 14, 2024
Legislature Wastes No Time Debating Property Tax Reform
After tackling Gov. Mark Gordon’s $10.8 billion budget, the largest issue for Wyoming legislators this session is property tax reform, and they wasted no time Tuesday getting into more than a dozen proposed bills.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
Hageman Chosen As Impeachment Manager For Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas
Shortly after the U.S. House voted to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, it was announced Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman will be a Senate trial manager, if needed.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
Down The Tubes: Wyoming House Kills Record 13 Committee Bills On Introduction
Some state lawmakers are upset that 13 committee bills were killed on the first day of the 2024 Wyoming Legislature on Monday, calling it a waste of state resources and potential money for communities.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
Wyoming Senate Will Hear Bill To Outlaw 'Sexual Contact' As Prostitution
Only the Wyoming Senate’s two Democrats voted against a bill that would add "sexual contact" to the definition of prostitution, with one saying laws to protect prostitutes from exploitation would be better.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2024
Some Wyoming Republicans Say Gordon’s State Of State Full Of ‘Hypocrisy’
Gov. Mark Gordon said all the right things in his State of the State speech Monday, which has some Wyoming Republicans calling out as “hypocrisy” and inconsistent with his recent energy stances.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2024
Proposal To Give $150,000 To Help Solve 150 Wyoming Cold Cases Advances
A bill that would allocate $150,000 to develop and maintain a Wyoming database for the estimated 150 unsolved cold cases dating back to 1972 has advanced to committee.
Jen KocherFebruary 13, 2024
Barrasso Votes Against $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package; It Passes Anyway
Sen. John Barrasso voted against a $95 billion foreign aid package early Tuesday morning, saying the U.S. needs to take care of the crisis at its southern border “before helping other nations secure theirs.” The bill passed 70-29.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2024
Bill Introduced To Discourage Child Custody For People Who Allow Gender-Change Treatments
Thirteen Wyoming legislators have signed-on to the "Best Interests Of A Child" bill that would sway child-custody battles in favor of parents and guardians who won't allow children to receive gender-change treatments.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2024