January 9, 2023 |
In Cheyenne, the Wyoming Legislature convenes tomorrow, January 10.
Among the bills to be considered is one that raises the age of teenage marriages from 16-years old to 18. Another raises the penalty for driving on closed roadway from not more than $1,500 to not less than $1,500.
In a sign of the times and the trouble on the dwindling Colorado River, House Bill 60 establishes a Colorado River Authority of Wyoming within the office of the state engineer. The legislation notes that the authority “shall not be interpreted to override, supersede or modify” any water right in Wyoming. The nine-member board will include one representative from Carbon County chosen by county commissioners to represent the Little Snake River Basin. A river commissioner, appointed by the governor, will represent the state and Wyoming water users in negotiations with the upper Colorado River Commission, the Colorado River basin states, and with the government of the United States.
If you smoke, expect to pay one dollar more per pack in state taxes.
The revenue committee, in House Bill 58, is asking to increase the tax from three-cents per cigarette to five-and-two-tenths cents—or over a dollar per pack. Lighting up a premium, handmade cigar wrapped in whole tobacco leaf will ring up 30-cents in taxes for the department of revenue.
Senate File 32 will make it unlawful to operate a remotely operated drone over a prison facility in Wyoming, except as authorized. As written, the legislation for the misdemeanor crime would carry a $2,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
The legislature also will consider another attempt to expand Medicaid in Wyoming.
Lawmakers will operate on a 37-day schedule with an adjournment date of Friday March 3rd at midnight. Three additional days are available if necessary.
