Know what the legislators are doing
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It’s that time of year when the Wyoming state legislators head to Cheyenne to conduct the state’s business and it is our job, as state citizens to pay attention and to give guidance to our local legislators on issues that are important to us and that will impact us.
Too often we sit back and tell ourselves they are going to do what they want and that our opinion does not matter. Your opinion does matter. Does it mean that legislators will do exactly as you wish? No, but it means that you are letting your voice be heard, that you are involved in the process and that sometimes bills are tweaked based on the comments that legislators hear.
Every legislator’s contact information, phone and email, is available on the State of Wyoming Legislature website, wyoleg.gov. In fact all the information you need to find out more about bills and to track bills can be found at the site.
You can watch the floor debate, committee debates as well.
For the southern Big Horn Basin our local senators are:
Sen. Ed Cooper, R-Ten Sleep, Senate District 20, [email protected].
Sen. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, Senate District 19, [email protected].
Our local representatives are:
Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland, House District 27, [email protected].
Rep. John Winter, R-Thermopolis, House District 28, [email protected].
Rep. Dalton Banks, R-Cowley, House District 26, [email protected].
This year is a budget session so the hot topic, of course, will be the budget.
In November, when Governor Mark Gordon submitted a balanced budget proposal to the Joint Appropriations Committee, he said in an opinion piece, “After calling for $265 million in savings into the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund, I have proposed using $49 million to help grow the rainy-day fund to $1.6 billion.
“I also propose allocating funding to support workforce development. The Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) has already made an impact for Wyoming citizens who want to remain in the state and fill the primary jobs so critical to our future. This initiative will continue to train highly-skilled workers who will fill Wyoming jobs in energy, health care, recreation, agriculture and more. Together with the efforts of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, we can support their work in meeting Wyoming’s workforce needs. Part of being a conservative is not putting off to tomorrow what you can do today, and not kicking the can down the road when we can do the hard work now.
“For too long Wyoming has put off the challenging work of better addressing its mental health crisis. My budget includes funding for community mental health centers and youth services mental health providers, as well as expansion of the 988 suicide prevention hotline capacity to add text and chat services. I believe Wyoming has an obligation to ensure hope and promise for tomorrow, and my mental health funding package keeps Wyoming focused on the well-being of our residents, now and into the future.”
These are important for our communities and for the future of our state.
There is much more in the budget, including funding current services.
Property taxes will be another big issue this session with numerous bills drafted to try and provide help for residents.
There are bills addressing hunting, guiding, crimes, education and vulnerable adults.
One bill, House Bill 27, would change the way possible abuse of a vulnerable adult is reported. Current law requires a law enforcement officer to “determine” that a “vulnerable adult is abused, neglected, exploited, intimidated or abandoned, or is committing self neglect.” Proposed changes would require law enforcement to notify the Department of Family Services when they receive a report of abuse or even “suspected” abuse. A determination does not have to be made prior to notifying DFS.
There are also laws that would govern public meetings and more.
All of these bills could potentially impact you or someone you love.
Here at the Northern Wyoming News, we will try to inform you through this newspaper on the happenings of the Legislature, but it is impossible to cover all of the bills. There are 190 prefiled at this time, not including the budget bill.
With technology making it easier for residents to stay informed, take the time to find the bills that are important to you and let your voice be heard.
The session begins Monday and is expected to adjourn March 8.
