Rep. Lawley discusses busy first week

WORLAND - State Representative Martha Lawley (R-Worland, HD27) wrapped up her first week of general session as a freshman legislator on Friday. She serves on the Education Committee and Minerals, Business and Economic Development (MBED) Committee.

The 67th Wyoming Legislature heard Governor Mark Gordon's State of the State Address on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Lawley said her takeaway from the speech was that Wyoming has unique opportunities in several areas, including the state's surplus budget.

"[The surplus budget is] very good, but it also starts to remind us of the somewhat volatile nature of our revenue in Wyoming. That is a great opportunity that we have, to look how to allocate those savings, where to spend and where to save," Lawley said.

She was also interested in the potential for economic growth in Wyoming's energy sector through developing technologies that Gordon mentioned in his address. "It is very exciting, the future and the potential for a future in Wyoming that will bring a little more stabilization to the revenue by the introduction of these new technologies and approaches. I think that's very fascinating, and it makes me even more excited to be on the minerals committee," Lawley said.

This week, Lawley and the MBED saw House Bill 42 – Off-road vehicle operation, 50 – Solid waste cease and transfer program funding, 61 - Source material associated with mining-agreement and 62 – Open banking, all of which were placed on general file. Of those, Lawley said House Bill 61 caught her eye.

The bill would allow the governor to negotiate with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to regulate source materials involved in the recovery of rare earth metals uranium and thorium, both of which are used for nuclear power. Lawley said the rare earth metals are byproducts of other mineral extractions, and new technologies would allow for their capture.

"It was exciting to hear from the energy sector, and in this case the mining sector in particular, about the future and what this will mean and where things are going in mining rare earth minerals," Lawley said.

The Education Committee saw House Bill 28 – Community college and capital construction, which passed its second reading, 29 – Community college funding-distance education credit hours, that also passed its second reading, 31 – BOCES as local education agencies, which was placed on general file, and 33 – School finance-career technical education grants, also on general file.

"A personal interest of mine is making sure in our K-12 systems, even up through our community college and college systems, to technical schools, all the different opportunities and pathways are equally accessible and equally well- lit. I want to have that higher-level, 10,000-foot approach of saying, 'How can we make sure that every one of these types of careers are esteemed and that they are valued in such a way that it is reflected in the money that we spend in education?" Lawley said.

Lawley thought House Bill 33 was an answer to that question. The legislation would create a $250,000 grant for career and technical education in K-12 schools.

"I feel like this is an area we need to give more attention to, and we need to give some schools a chance to be a little bit innovative so we can learn and again strengthen this area as we move forward, not just for the sake of the economy, but for the sake of students. This is their path forward," she said.

Lawley is also sponsoring her first personal piece of legislation, House Bill 121. "Probably the most consistent topic that was brought to me by people as I was running, and even since I have been elected, has to do with the concern over the increase in property taxes, particularly related to the increase in valuation of property," Lawley said. "It's not a huge problem yet in Washakie County, but there are some people who are feeling that pinch. So, I began to look at some different ways that we could at least approach the problem."

Lawley's bill would raise the responsibility of property tax deferment out of the counties to the Department of Revenue, which Lawley said has potential to help rural counties that could not afford or manage deferments through their own funding. The Department of Revenue, Lawley said, has the funds and personnel to run the operation, and the state would benefit from any tax liens taken out on property. Lawley also said that through her bill, more people would qualify for deferment, with an added category for disabled veterans. She noted that this is not a solution to the issue of increasing valuations and property taxes, but a relief program that should be part of a multifaceted approach. The bill has been cosponsored by chairman of the House Revenue Committee, Rep. Steve Harshman and Senator Cale Case.

"I feel like it's important to keep in mind that there are situations where people need assistance, and there should be some options offered," Lawley said.

In closing, Lawley said, "It's an honor to be here, I'm excited, and I'm looking forward to hopefully having an impact for the people in District 27."

Legislative meetings, proposed bills and a session schedule can be viewed at wyoleg.gov.