Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 31

• The Wyoming Senate announced Wednesday that it won’t pass a supplemental budget this year, possibly the first time this has occurred in the history of the Wyoming Legislature.

• A bill calling for possible felony charges against people who torture predators cleared the Legislature on Wednesday and is headed to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk. 

• Texas-based American Action Fund has been sending out a large number of text messages and mailers to Wyoming residents. The messages urge people to pressure legislators on bills such as school choice.

• A Senate committee passed a bill Wednesday that would create separate primary and run-off elections for the state’s top elected offices, including governor. 

• Tensions got so bad on the House floor late Wednesday afternoon that state Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, tried to call for a break so members could cool their emotions. The motion was rejected and the chamber moved on.

• The Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee rejected a bill by a 3-2 vote on Wednesday evening that would have allowed health care employees and businesses to refuse providing care if it disagreed with their political beliefs.

• The Senate passed on third reading by a 25-6 vote a bill that restricts bathroom usage to biological sex. The House didn’t like a change made to the bill exempting University of Wyoming facilities, so now the bill will go to a Joint Conference Committee.

• The House Appropriations Committee passed a bill on a 6-1 vote Wednesday that would add civil penalties for people to pursue against law enforcement agencies whose members enforce federal gun laws in violation of state laws.

• While members sang happy birthday on the floor of the House, a service dog in the audience started howling, adding a moment of levity to an otherwise high-tension day.