Government & Politics
News
Swapping Property Tax For Sales Tax Good For Wyoming Homeowners, Bad For Renters
A proposal by Rep. Steve Harshman of Casper that would swap property tax for 2% hike in sales tax for most Wyomingites is good for homeowners, but bad for renters.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2024
Natrona County Wants More Help Paying To Guarantee Air Service
An air guarantee agreement with SkyWest to provide service between Casper and Salt Lake City pays off, but Natrona County commissioners said Tuesday they want more help paying for it.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 22, 2024
Not So Fast: Wyoming Energy Industries Urge Caution On Property Tax Proposal
Wyoming Mining Association chief Travis Deti says a landmark tax reform bill would impact competition in all sectors of the energy industry. "Potential impacts of the bill on the mining industry could be significant," he said.
Pat MaioFebruary 21, 2024
National Activist Chloe Cole Testifies Against Transgender Treatments For Minors In Wyoming
Activist Chloe Cole, who has "detransitioned" after receiving transgender surgeries as a minor, testified on Wednesday against the controversial treatments, saying "no adult has any right to do this to any child, whether it be a parent, a doctor, a counselor, anyone.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2024
Casper Landlords Won’t Be On The Hook For Unpaid Utilities After All
Weeks of back-and-forth debate over whether to make landlords responsible for taking care of unpaid utility bills left by tenants, a split Casper City Council on Tuesday voted against the proposal.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 21, 2024
Lummis Calls For Mayorkas Impeachment Trial
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis on Tuesday demanded Minority Leader Mitch McConnell call a Senate trial into the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2024
Tempers Boil Over On Wyoming House Floor After Accusation Of Vote Swapping
Wyoming House Speaker Albert Sommers didn't hold back in chastising a Gillette legislator on the House floor Tuesday after he accused another member of “logrolling” — political speak for trading votes.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2024
Wyoming Tax On Electricity Exports Could Touch Off ‘Arms Race’ If Bill Passes
Wyoming’s largest 19 industrial users consume more than half of the electricity in Rocky Mountain Power’s territory and worry about an “arms race” with other states that want to recover rates if a bill taxing electricity exports were to pass.
Pat MaioFebruary 21, 2024
Blockbuster Bill Would Eliminate Most Wyoming Property Tax, Hike Sales Tax 2%
Rep. Steve Harshman's blockbuster tax reform proposal that would eliminate most property tax in Wyoming in return for hiking the sales tax by 2% passed the House Revenue Committee on Tuesday. “Our people need this and want this,” he said.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
Explosive Testimony: Aggressive ATF Agents Raided Wyoming Man's Home For Firearms
Last November, ATF agents dragged a Wyoming man from his house in his underwear even as he was screaming that he had a certificate authorizing him to possess firearms, a gun rights advocate told legislators on Tuesday.
Mark HeinzFebruary 20, 2024
Senate Committee Passes Bill Banning Credit Card Tracking Of Gun Purchases
A bill prohibiting financial institutions from assigning credit card codes to track firearms purchases in Wyoming advanced to the Senate on Tuesday. The bill passed the senate committee by a unanimous margin.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
Wyoming Senate OKs $2 Million To Help Texas With Border Fight
The Wyoming Senate on Monday approved a $2 million budget amendment as aid for Texas to secure its southern border with Mexico.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
Senate Panel Considers Banning Some Foreign Property Ownership In Wyoming
Military Affairs Commission on Monday considered legislation that would ban some foreign ownership of Wyoming property considered critical infrastructure for the state and U.S.
Pat MaioFebruary 20, 2024
Wyoming A Step Closer To Requiring Abortion Clinics To Be Licensed
Supporters of a bill requiring abortion clinics to be licensed in Wyoming say its purpose is to protect the health of women, detractors say it’s a ploy to restrict abortion more.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2024
After Committee Kills Bill, State Can Still Vax Kids Without Parent OK In Emergencies
A bill that would have removed the state’s authority to vaccinate Wyoming kids without parental consent in extreme circumstances was killed in committee Monday.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 20, 2024
172 Bills Axed -- Short Wyoming Budget Session Makes First Week A Legislative Massacre
With only 20 days allotted in a budget session, bills can die a quick death. After the first week of the 2024 session that was completed on Friday, 172 bills either failed to be introduced or were not considered at all.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2024
Senate Will Consider Bill Banning Some Sex Offenders From Working Around Teens
Wyoming Senator Affie Ellis is sponsoring a bill that would ban some sex offenders from working or volunteering at teen hangouts, such as fast-food restaurants and arcades.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 19, 2024
Handful Of Property Tax Bills Advance, Including 5% Cap On Year-To-Year Hikes
The House Revenue Committee advanced a handful of property tax relief measures Friday, including one that would cap year-to-year tax increases at 5%.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 17, 2024
Bills To Give $300,000 To Solve Wyoming Cold Case Crimes Pass Committee
A pair of bills that would give the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation $300,000 to focus on solving cold case crimes were passed by the Judicial Committee on Friday.
Jen KocherFebruary 16, 2024
Bill To Empower Governor To Challenge BLM Rock Springs Plan Passes Committee
The Wyoming House Judiciary Committee voted Friday to advance a bill that would allow the governor to refuse to provide any resources to help enforce any federal land policy deemed to be against Wyoming’s best interests.
Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2024
Wyoming Caucus Blasts Freedom Caucus Republicans For Killing Firearms Bill
Rep. Barry Crago blasted the Freedom Caucus on Friday for voting against a bill aimed to protect Wyomingites from being tracked for buying and owning firearms. "The same legislators who claim to be principled staunch advocates for the Second Amendment then turn around and vote against it," he said.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
Freedom Caucus Blasts 19 Republicans For Killing Bill To Define Genders
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus went on the offensive Thursday after 19 Republicans voted to kill a bill that officially defines what it is to be “female” and “male” in Wyoming as a person’s biological sex at birth.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
$40 Million For Suicide Hotline Trust Fund Bill Advances By 1 Vote
A proposal to put $40 million into a trust fund for Wyoming’s two 988 suicide hotline centers squeaked through the House for introduction Thursday, just barely meeting the two-thirds threshold to advance.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
Bills Repealing Gun-Free Zones & Lowering Age Of Concealed Carry In Wyoming Reignite Familiar Debate
Wyoming legislators and advocates on both sides of the gun policy debate will cover familiar ground this legislative session with pending bills calling for the repeal of “gun-free zones” and lowering the legal age for concealed carry to 18.
Mark HeinzFebruary 15, 2024