Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 30

• Megan Defenfelder, Wyoming’s top education official, says blocking transgender participation in female sports isn’t about disrespect. It’s about ensuring the safety of female athletes.

• Wyoming driver’s licenses and IDs will have a person’s non-U.S. citizen status printed on them under a new bill sent to the governor’s desk Tuesday. In a change to the original proposal, it will be in black on the back, not in color on the front.

• A bill landed on Gov. Mark Gordon's desk Tuesday that makes it harder for power companies to use eminent domain in Wyoming to take land to build power lines. 

• Cody Republican Rachel Rodriguez-Williams says Wyoming’s rodeos need protection from animal rights activists. Her bill to protect rodeo passed out of committee Tuesday, while detractors claim it could open the door to puppy mills and dog fighting.

• Members of the Wyoming Senate and House couldn’t agree over a proposed property tax cut Tuesday that has fluctuated between 25% and 50%. Thinking a deal had been struck at 25%, one state senator says House members backing off is “hugely disappointing.”

• The Senate passed on third reading a bill that requires women to receive ultrasounds before getting prescription-induced abortions in Wyoming. An amendment was added to the bill by Sen. Evie Brennan, R-Cheyenne, on Tuesday, reducing the felony charge associated with it to a misdemeanor.

• The House rejected on third reading by a 38-23 vote a bill that would have made school board races partisan in Wyoming, with some people expressing concern it would prevent federal employees from running for the position.
• The House Appropriations Committee considered a bill on Tuesday that would add civil penalties for people to pursue against law enforcement agencies whose members enforce federal gun laws in violation of state laws.

Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.