• A group of firefighters and law enforcement officers gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday to express concern about a major property tax cut bill that could make large cuts to their departments.
• A legislative committee easily passed a bill to the House floor Wednesday that would change local school board elections in Wyoming. Now nonpartisan, if Senate File 98 passes candidates will have to declare their political affiliations.
• The Senate Education Committee advanced a school choice bill Wednesday that would give parents $7,000 per child vouchers, but just barely. The 3-2 vote means the Senate will debate allowing parents to have public money to seek private education.
• The House passed bills banning ranked choice voting, requiring more updated maintenance of the voter registration rolls, and prohibiting foreign funding of ballot measures in Wyoming on Wednesday. Secretary of State Chuck Gray celebrated the passage of these bills, calling it a “wonderful moment for our state.”
• While discussing a bill that changes the laws for appealing zoning changes in Wyoming, an amendment was added to it by the House Appropriations Committee that no local government can impose a monetary fee, non-monetary condition or other concession on residential or commercial development related to workforce housing, unmet housing needs or affordable housing within their jurisdiction. The amendment would have a large impact on the town of Jackson, which is well known for imposing these requirements.
• Both state Sen. Dan Dockstader, R-Afton, and Rep. Tomi Strock, R-Douglas, celebrated their birthdays Wednesday.
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Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
