February 20, 2024 |
Photo – State Capitol Building in Cheyenne – Bigfoot99 file photo
In Cheyenne, the second week of the 20-day legislative session got underway Monday with the second reading of the budget bill. By the time the House adjourned on Friday, 94 bills had died for lack of a vote.
Time is tight in the budget session. On Monday, House Speaker Albert Sommers got things rolling by announcing the second reading of the budget bill.
The Wyoming Legislature has until March 8 at midnight to set the state’s budget for 2025-26. Starting yesterday, lawmakers have three weeks to hammer out the state budget and any other issues of importance.
Because of the tight timeline, bills not related to the state budget did not fare well. One bill that died in died in last week’s rush would have raised non-resident fishing license fees. Another that would have defined the term “woman” based on biology rather than gender-identity also failed. Both bills may be back next year.
Several bills that address rising property taxes in Wyoming moved forward while others also addressing the issue died.
The Wyoming Senate did move forward a bill prohibits doctors from performing medical procedures on children related to gender reassignment. A similar bill died in the Wyoming House.
An exception to the general hardline against non-budget bills was granted in both chambers against national gun-grabbing attempts. Both the Wyoming Senate and House introduced legislation to stop the implementation or enforcement of federal red flag gun seizures. Red flag laws, as they are known, legalize local governments to remove firearms from people accused of being a danger to themselves or others.
House Bill 125 would repeal gun free zones and allow for concealed carry in any governmental meeting.
Bills seeking to ban certain foreign entities from owning land in Wyoming also passed both in chambers of the Legislature. Another bans foreign ownership of lands near military installations.
Also clearing the budget session’s high two-thirds majority hurdle for introduction is a bill that would prohibit any governmental entities from engaging in any diversity, equity, or inclusion program, activity, or policy.
According to House Speaker Sommers, out of 221 bills and 8 joint resolutions filed in the House, the 2nd most in Budget Session history, 90 House bills and 4 resolutions died due to time constraints on Friday. That means, 135 pieces of legislation were voted on during the introduction process.
