Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WORLAND - "It was a learning experience, fortunately I like to learn and I appreciated the opportunity," Representative Martha Lawley (R-Worland) said of her first legislative session.

The 2023 General Session closed on Friday, March 3. Four hundred and ninety-seven bills were introduced at the beginning of the session, and 196 passed. Looking back, Lawley saw many successes in her first legislative experience. 

According to Lawley, the supplemental budget was an exercise in fiscal restraint, with $1.4 billion allocated to savings. "We know that the current revenue stream of Wyoming is volatile and has always been," Lawley said, in reference to the energy and mining industries. She was also happy to report that the Legislature fully funded Wyoming's K-12 education system, which has not been accomplished in the past. An additional direct distribution to local governments was also beneficial in Lawley's eyes. 

"That really helps our area get caught up on some things," Lawley said. "There's some road work that needs to be done that they haven't had the budget money for, or whatever they would use it on, it's obviously their obligation to manage that. I was very happy about that, because it's just helpful."

While Lawley's property tax deferment bill died in the Senate Revenue Committee, she still saw progress on Wyoming's property tax reform through Senate Joint Resolution 3. The resolution was enrolled on Friday and would create a residential property tax category to allow the government to tax those properties at a separate rate from industrial and commercial property, with the intention of providing some relief to homeowners. Lawley described this as, "the beginning of true property tax reform." This amendment to the state constitution will be on the ballot in 2024. 

Lawley was also supportive of House Bill 99's passage, which amended qualifications for the property tax refund program. Out of 21 property tax-related bills, only House Bill 99 and 100, which orders a study on converting property tax valuation from fair market to purchase price, passed. 

On social issues, Lawley was a cosponsor of the Life is a Human Right Act, which was signed by the Senate President on Friday. The bill, once enrolled, would prohibit abortion except in cases of incest and rape. The law would be enacted in the event that Wyoming's current abortion trigger law is ruled unconstitutional by the state supreme court. The Senate added on Lawley's amendments, which failed in the House, to remove some key findings in the bill that would have presumed that the Legislature could interpret laws. 

Lawley was proud to support Senate File 133, which she managed on the House floor. This legislation, signed by the Speaker of the House on Friday, would prohibit transgender women from participating in interscholastic women's sports competitions. 

"I feel we can do both: protect Title IX created for women in sports, and districts still have the freedom to create programs for transgender students. People always kind of make this choice, one or the other, but I don't think we have to blow up the Title IX lane for women in order to provide some options," Lawley said. 

Chloe's Law, which would have prohibited gender-affirming surgeries or hormone therapy for people under 18, was not heard on the House floor. Lawley was frustrated by this, saying, "I am kind of an incrementalist, you could say, politically. That would have been helpful, so I'm kind of disappointed about that."

From her work in the House Education Committee, Lawley saw progress on apprenticeship and career technical education, as well as public school mental health and community college funding. In Minerals, Business and Economic Development, of which she was also a member, Lawley was excited to see opportunities for Wyoming's energy sector. 

"There's a renewed focus on the new technology and dealing with environmental issues that are important too," Lawley said. "Just working those in a way that Wyoming is prepared for what is coming in the future, because there are some great opportunities coming to Wyoming if we're ready for them, and then giving us an ability to handle them responsibly."

Lawley expects business and economic development to be a main focus of the interim, where lawmakers will be taking field trips to mineral hotspots in Kemmerer and Rock Springs to learn about industry growth potential. In education, the topics of early childhood development programs, mental health and parental choice will be on her radar as she travels to Riverton with legislators to study the community college system in Wyoming. 

Lawley will serve as a member of the Department of Family Services Advisory Council and Council of State Government West. Only two members of the House are selected for Emerging Leader Training, and Lawley was appointed by the Speaker as one. She has also applied for the 2023 Western Legislator Academy. 

"It is an amazing honor and privilege representing this District, Lawley said. "It wasn't easy, but it was an honor and a privilege. How those results are judged are in the eye of the beholder." She added, "This is a good time to have dialog," encouraging constituents to engage with her about political issues.