Showing posts with label 2019. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2019. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Participating in the saratorial decline.

Note: The other day I did a long post on clothing standards.  In pasting together a couple of other lingering posts for a combined new topic (the one on retirement) I ran across this post.  Well, bummer, I just posted this one:

Declined Sartorial Standards. Have we gone too informal?

This one dates back to some time prior to May, given one of the references in it.

Well, I'll run it anyway.


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As a Wyoming lawyer, but a lawyer, I've watched the slow decline in clothing standards while participating in it.

At my first day of work in 1990 I reported to work wearing a double-breasted Brooks Brothers suit.  The first partner who came in was wearing wool khaki trousers and a blue blazer, and he was dressed down.  He told me that I didn't have to wear a suit every day.

For years and years, however, I normally wore a tie and clothing appropriate for a tie.  Then COVID 19 hit.

For much of the prior spike of the disease (we're in a spike now, of the unvaccinated, but of course the entire state disregarding that) I kept coming in the office.  I was often the only one there when we were at the point where the staff didn't have to come in.  I pretty much quit dressing in office dress at the time as there wasn't much of a reason to do it.  Nobody was coming in, I was there by myself, what the heck.

I've not made it back to normal, and not everyone else has, either.

And of course normal in 2019 was not the same thing it was in 1999, or 2009.  We'd already slid down the dressing scale in the back of the office, where I am.  I never used to wear blue jeans in the office, but by 2019 I already was a fair amount.  Starting with COVID 19, I am all the time.

One of the things about that is that in 2019 I already had a selection of older dress clothes that were wearing out, I hadn't replaced.  Probably the inevitability of their demise would have caused me to replace them on in to 2020.  But I didn't have to.  Additionally, the long gap in time meant that I pretty much didn't do anything about the fact I'm down to two suits now.

Two suits isn't much if you are a trial lawyer.

Well, running up to the trial, I was going to go down to Denver and get new ones.  But I ran out of time.  I still haven't done it.

I need to.

I'll confess that part of my reluctance to get new suits is that I'm 58 years old.  I don't wear suits daily at work, and I'm not one of those guys who is going to claim "I'm going to work until I'm 80".  Any new suit I get now will still be in fighting shape when I'm 68, and that's reasonably enough, but to my cheap way of thinking, emphasized by the fact that I have two kids in college, its something that is both easy for me to put off, and in the back of my mind I tend to think "maybe I won't really need those if . . . "

Well, I probably better remedy that.

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Pandemic Part 6. The Delta Surge


 July 30, 2021

Ready or not, and probably not, the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has entered the state and infections are rapidly rising, concentrated among those who have not received a vaccination.

The state health officer has asked for Wyomingites to mask back up indoors in areas of  moderate to high transmission, which includes Laramie and Natrona Counties.

In Colorado, certain counties have been pointed out as areas of rapidly rising infections as well, including Denver County, where the recent Major League Baseball game and a concert are now regarded as superspreader events.

As a background to all of this, it's very clear that the global population is nowhere near the "herd immunity" level which is necessary to render COVID 19 extinct.  Perhaps this isn't too surprising, given the monumental nature of the effort necessary to achieve it, but what is surprising is that the developed world hasn't achieved it and the United States is clearly lagging far behind. This, too, comes at a point in time at which it nearly looked as if success had been achieved.

In the US a strong feature of the ongoing pandemic is a refusal of a certain part of the population to receive the vaccination that prevents it, this making the disease cross over from one which lurks ready to strike anyone to one which at this point is a preventable disease. Preventable disease itself has become the hallmark of modern American medical situations, in that most of the diseases that are real killers in the US are actually ones that are preventable.

Future historians and sociologist will study this in depth to attempt to determine what happened here.  We'll leave that for the time being, but what we would note is that the culture of the pandemic has really changed.  For the vaccinated the refusal to get the vaccine is absolutely baffling.  Many of those not vaccinated cite personal freedom as the basis of their views, but personal freedoms have always yielded in the United States to public emergencies with examples simply too numerous to mention.  Given this, at this point, many public entities are simply done with allowing for personal choice and have determined to make life difficult for those not getting vaccinated, up to and including firing those who refuse to receive vaccines.  The Federal Government is an all out effort to vaccinate its servants who remain unvaccinated, and President Biden is about to order the military to be fully vaccinated, something it amazingly has not implemented yet.

While it's a grim prognostication, in my view it's too late.  Whatever the hesitancy is caused by, we're going to be in for a third wave of the pandemic.  Many of the victims this time, indeed most of them, will be vaccination hold outs.  If the US achieves herd immunity, which is unlikely, it'll be through the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the disease among that population, which would be a tragic and lethal way to achieve it.  Having said that, and seemingly unnoticed by the unvaccinated, a growing bitter resentment against them by the vaccinated is really building with the distinct view that the unvaccinated are being lethally selfish.  With that being the case, there are now open comments in some quarters about simply letting the unvaccinated go ahead and risk death without sympathy from anyone else.  There is also building support for private employers to require vaccinations of employees.

The great added problem all of this is creating is that there is now a very real risk that the disease will evolve a vaccine resistant strain, setting everything back.  If that occurs, and my guess is that this is now inevitable, all the progress to date will be lost, and we'll return to the strict restrictions, and stricter, that were only recently lifted.  There will be enormous resistance to doing so, but a disease that's now killed 600,000 Americans will be in the gate to double that death toll, potentially, and the next public health crisis that results will be at least as severe as the current one.  My guess is we're mere weeks away from such a strain emerging somewhere.

In terms of the "somewhere", there are still vast reaches of the globe were very few are vaccinated and wish to be.  This is also a massive problem. Whereas in the United States the disease is circulating among those who, for the most part, could avoid it if they wished to, in the Third World it's circulating at a largely unknown rate among those who would avoid it if they could, but can't.

As noted, this will be a source for a great amount of study in the future.  How did a country which was a scientific and medical leader in the mid 20th Century end up one in which medicine was so disregarded?  Reading about it will be fascinating for future students of human behavior and history.  Living it, however, and seeing those dying in it, is quite a bit different.

August 1, 2021

The producers of a Clifford The Big Red Dog movie have pulled its release due to the Delta variant surge.

August 2, 2021

Dr. Fauci warned of more pain and suffering ahead, but didn't foresee shutdowns on the basis that there were sufficient numbers of vaccinated people to avoid them.

Senator Barrasso argued the CDC should be sued and found liable for malpractice, and urged people to get vaccinated.

August 3, 2021

And here we have a current, sobering, look at how the globe is doing in terms of vaccination progress.

Senator Lindsay Graham reports he has a break through case of COVID 19.

As can be seen, the US, in spite of vaccine resistance, is doing pretty well. It needs to do better.  Canada, which was having problems with vaccination rates for a while, has pulled head of the pack in terms of major nations.  Not noted on this chart, some small countries and ones with very unified governmental structures have achieved 100% vaccination.  The US, given the amount of vaccine it has, could rank right up there with Canada, but the curious political season, etc., has frustrated that.  Nonetheless, the US just hit 70% initial vaccination, so it's getting there, and the recent outbreak of the Delta variant has seemed to spark an increase in first time vaccinations.

In the Third World, however, vaccination rates are a disaster due to lack of vaccine. And given that, new variants of the disease are undoubtedly evolving.

August 4, 2021

As posted on another thread, the CDC has reimposed the moratorium on evictions.

August 5, 2021

Governor Gordon announced that he will not impose a mask requirement on schools this upcoming school year, leaving any such move to local districts.

Outside perhaps of Teton County, there is no political will for such a requirement, and therefore it will not occur.

Local hospitalizations have climbed back to the rate they were at this past January.

Japan is expanding its Covid restrictions.  China is reimposing its Draconian closures on some areas within its borders.

August 11, 2021

The University of Wyoming has reinstated a mask mandate.

Hawaii has reinstated restrictions.  Oregon is imposing indoor mask requirements.

August 17, 2021

Governor Gordon has indicated Wyoming will not being intervening in COVID in any fashion in spite of the increased numbers.

While not put this way, the politics of events are such that the state simply isn't going to act no matter how bad the spread of the Delta variant becomes.  While there's a chance one or two counties might, it's only a chance.

The Governor's office itself was shut down recently due to a COVID  infection.  The question does remain on whether some agencies with a high degree of independence might act on their own, but so far there is no hint that they shall.

In contrast, a single case has sent New Zealand back into a lockdown.

August 18, 2021

Wyoming's COVID death rate returned to the level it was in February.

New Mexico has put a mask mandate in place.

Pope Francis urged the unvaccinated to get vaccinations.  This came in the form of an advertisement for the US Ad Council backing vaccines.

Given this, perhaps it should be noted that Cardinal Raymond Burke, a highly respected and conservative Catholic Bishop, has been hospitalized for COVID 19. Cardinal Burke has been a critic of the vaccination efforts for various reasons and has somewhat gone from a respected critic of Pope Francis to a slightly sidelined critic whose views on some things bordered on becoming extreme.

August 21, 2021

Vaccination rates in Wyoming are now dramatically rising. So are infections, but this seems to have gotten the message through to a lot of people on vaccination.

August 28, 2021

Teton County has imposed a mask mandate.

September 1, 2021

Hot Springs County's schools are going virtual for thirteen days due to a COVID spike.

The National Guard is assisting clinics in Billings, Montana, due to a spike there.  The Idaho National Guard has been called out in that state for the same purpose.

Anti-vaxxers shut down a mobile vaccination clinic in Georgia.

September 2, 2021

Governor Gordon indicated Wyoming will not impose a mask mandate.

As a practical matter, there simply exists no political will to do this in the state at this point in time.

On a personal note, I now know one (unvaccinated) individual who has died of the Delta variant and another (unvaccinated) person who is going to, ages 60 and 40 respectively.

September 3, 2021

30% of the patients at Casper's Wyoming Medical Center are in the hospital due to COVID 19.  Most are under 65.

The school district will require individuals out of work due to COVID to take the time from their sick leave.

September 5, 2021

The hospital in Sweetwater County opened an additional wing to handle the influx of COVID 19 patients.

September 9, 2021

President Biden has asked OSHA to mandate that employers with over 100 employees be mandated to require those employees to have COVID 19 vaccinations.  He's also signed an executive order which will require Federal contractors to have COVID 19 vaccinations.

Over 100,000,000 Americans will be covered by the orders.

Governor Gordon, probably sensing more the wind where he lives than giving expression to his own opinions, or at least I suspect, noted the following:

Governor Gordon Statement Opposing Biden Administration's Vaccine Mandates

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has issued the following statement in response to today's announcement by the Biden Administration mandating COVID-19 vaccinations

“The Biden Administration’s announcement to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing for private businesses is an egregious example of big government overreach.

Our Constitution was written and fought for to protect our liberties as American citizens. This administration’s latest pronouncement demonstrates its complete disregard for the rule of law and the freedoms individuals and private companies enjoy under our Constitution. In Wyoming, we believe that government must be held in check.

I have asked the Attorney General to stand prepared to take all actions to oppose this administration’s unconstitutional overreach of executive power. It has no place in America. Not now, and not ever.”

This puts Attorney General Bridget Hill in the position of filing doomed litigation, or litgation that will be moot by the time it is taken up, but as a posturing matter, this no doubt really doesn't matter.

The Northern Arapaho Tribe, taking the opposite approach, is mandating that its employees be vaccinated.

Los Angeles' school district, the second largest in the nation, is requiring vaccinations for indivdiuals age 12 and up.

September 10, 2021

Laramie County's school district has mandated that students wear masks indoors.

September 11, 2021

France has banned unvaccinated U.S. tourists from entering the country.

The CDC released a study that the unvaccinated were 4.5 times more likely to get COVID 19 and 11 times more likely to die.

September 15, 2021

The legislature is apparently considering a special session to consider the Administration's COVID 19 mandates.

This would really be an odd exercise as the one that the legislature would be likely to be the most upset about, the OSHA entry into vaccination requirements, hasn't come into effect yet and is extremely likely to be tested in court before it does. Anything the legislature does will come up against the Supremecy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and therefore be ineffective, if it goes into effect, and put the state into a fight with the Administration where it can't win, but where it can end up spending money that it doesn't have.  It'll also serve to really fire up polarization in an area, and era, in which everything is already extremely polarized.

September 17, 2021

The University of Wyoming is extending its mask mandate through the fall.

The 2021 Wyoming Special Legislative Session.

September 21, 2021

The Pfizer accounted that its vaccination is safe for children 5 through 11 years of age.

The number of Americans who have died of COVID 19 has supassed the number who died from the 1918 Influenza, a number which must be tempered i consideration if we take into account that the country had about 1/3d of its current population at the time, meaning that the 1918 flu was still far more devestating, at least so far.

The school nurse in the Pine Bluffs school district resigned after that district's board determined to continue to allow children exposed to COVID 19 to attend school, as long as they wore masks. Citing the act and its impact on her professionally and personally, she resigned.

September 22, 2021

Governor Activates Wyoming National Guard to Provide Hospital Assistance

September 21, 2021

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming’s hospitals have sought additional support to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge in hospitalized patients. There are approximately 200 people with COVID-19 in Wyoming hospitals today, which is near the peak number the state has seen during the pandemic. Governor Mark Gordon has activated guardsmen who have stepped forward to provide temporary assistance to hospitals throughout the state.

Governor Gordon has called approximately 95 Soldiers and Airmen to State Active Duty orders, assigned to hospital locations at 24 different sites within 17 Wyoming cities. They will serve to augment current hospital and Wyoming Department of Health staff to help ease workloads imposed upon them due to large numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

“I am grateful to the members of our Wyoming National Guard for once again answering the call to provide assistance in our hospitals during this surge,” Governor Gordon said. “Our Guard members truly are Wyoming’s sword and shield, and their commitment to our state is something for which every Wyoming citizen can be thankful.”

Guard members’ responsibilities will include: assisting in environmental cleanup in hospital facilities; food and nutrition service; COVID-19 screening; managing personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies; and other support tasks. Some will also be trained to administer COVID-19 tests.

“The Delta variant has overwhelmed the medical institutions of states across this country. Our state is no different with most hospitals at or near capacity,” said Col. David Pritchett, director of the joint staff for the Wyoming National Guard. “The Soldiers and Airmen of the Wyoming National Guard are proud to jump back in to provide much needed assistance to our communities as we continue to battle the effects of COVID-19.”

The orders for guardsmen will be 14-30 day rotations, with the potential to extend beyond that, up until Dec. 31. The numbers and locations of guardsmen may change based on hospital needs.

--END--

September 24, 2021

In the reverse of the seeming norm, a lawsuit has been filed in Montana seeking to overturn a law there which probhibits employers from mandating vaccinations and masks.

October 8, 2021

120 American children have lost at least one parent due to a COVID 19 death.

October 9, 2021

Casper's ICU is full.

More Americans have died in 2021 of COVID 19 than in 2021 at this point.

A female student in Laramie was suspended for refusing to wear a mask and then arrested as she refused to leave school grounds.

News anchor Cheryl Hackett was terminated from KCWY for refusing to adhere to her employer, Gray Media's, vaccine mandate.  She is the second person in a Wyoming Gray Media outlet to be terminated for this reason in a week.

October 13, 2021



October 13, 2021

Governor Gordon Further Prepares Legal Challenge of Federal Overreach on Vaccine Mandates

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon is taking action to oppose President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The Governor and the Attorney General continue to prepare the State’s legal challenge to the threat of the Biden Administration’s proposed vaccine mandates, when they are finalized. It should be noted that the Biden Administration has yet to issue any specific policies that can be challenged in court.

“Four weeks ago, when the President issued his announcement regarding vaccine mandates, I immediately instructed Attorney General Hill to prepare for legal action to oppose this unconstitutional overreach,” Governor Gordon said. “Attorney General Hill has begun that mission and is continuing to strengthen alliances, improve potential arguments, and consider appropriate strategies.”

Governor Gordon noted that a joint letter from 24 attorneys general explained that the President’s edict is broad, inexact, and utilizes a rarely-used provision in Federal law that allows it to be effective immediately.

“This coalition of Attorneys General is well-prepared to fight the Biden Administration in courts when the time is right, and I am committed to using every tool available to us to oppose federal rules, regulations, and standards whenever they overreach. We are prepared to act promptly once these mandates are finally issued,” the Governor said. “Wyoming will not stand idly by to see any erosion of the constitutional rights afforded our citizens and their industries.” 

As the state prepares for its legal battle with the federal government, Governor Gordon stressed that as a conservative Republican, he continues to stand for smaller government that is closest to the people. Governor Gordon reiterated, “Government must resist the temptation to intrude in private sector interests.”

“It is neither conservative nor Republican to replace one form of tyranny with another,” he added. “Doing so is antithetical to our American form of government, even if it is for something we like. I will stand firm against unconstrained governmental overreach regardless of where or when it occurs.”

-END-

Politically Governor Gordon has nearly no choice but to take this approach, and of course he's faced with a special session of the legislature as well, something he may be trying to avoid. But the legal prospects for such a suit are small.

October 22, 2021

Russia is experiencing a record COVID surge.

More Wyomingites are presently hospitalized due to COVID 19 than at any prior point in the pandemic.  Deaths have also hit an all time weekly high. Almost all of the new victims are unvaccinated.

One in five of the prisoners in the Wyoming State Prison presently are infected with the disease.

October 24, 2021

The unvaccinated can expect to get COVID 19 every sixteen months, according to a recent study.

October 30, 2021

Wyoming has joined ten other states in a doomed effort to litigate the question of whether the Federal Government can require employees of its contractors to be vaccinated.

The rule hasn't gone into effect  It will in December.  It's unlikely this issue will be resolved by December, but when it is, it'll be resolved in favor of the Federal government.

Prior Threads:

Pandemic Part 6.









Thursday, August 27, 2020

Somehow I missed the fact that the master biographer Edmund Morris died last May.

He was 78 years old.

His series on Theodore Roosevelt, started as work when he was a graduate student, is an absolute masterpiece.  The three volume work was interrupted by his biography on Ronald Reagan, which I haven't read, but in which he included unusual writing techniques including the acknowledge inclusion of fiction in order to illustrate events which actually happened, a technique which lead the work to be condemned and which I suspect was done to address the problem that Ronald Reagan's early years simply weren't that interesting.

Morris was born in Kenya and had a clipped upper class English accent.  His early career was not in history or writing and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, his first book, was not issued until he was 40 years old.  His last well known work, Colonel Roosevelt, and the second volume of his history of Roosevelt, Theodore Rex, were delayed by his twelve year effort researching Reagan, an effort that lead him to the conclusion that Reagan was almost impossible to understand.  

Morris wrote only seven books, with his final work on Edison being published after his death.  He'll always be remembered for his three volume set on Theodore Roosevelt.

Saturday, February 8, 2020

The 2020 Wyoming Legislative Session. The early committee efforts.

What!?  It's only May 2019!

Yup, the committees of the legislature are hard at work and legislation is already being crafted that might receive introduction next year.

So far one such example is a revived effort to keep people from switching parties close to the General Election.  This has been a focus of the state's GOP ever since the Gubernatorial race as there's a lingering perception, disputed by the statistical evidence, that a lot of Democrats crossed over to influence the outcome. The statistics branch of the University of Wyoming has conclusively demonstrated that this simply isn't the case, but the belief remains and it looks like the bill will be back in front of the legislature again.

So will a bill requiring voter ID at the polls, it appears. That bill failed to make it out of the House by a single vote.  It appears it will be back.

May 14, 2019

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While the entire pundit class and press class of the nation is focused on Robert Mueller testifying in Congress, which will commence today, Wyoming's legislative committees have been looking at dollars and cents.

Which the state doesn't have enough of.

In an matter on that topic, Jerry Obermueuller's bill, which was introduced last session as the National Retail Fairness Act, and which did very well early on only to meet the opposition of national organizations (featuring even an op ed by a couple of Wal Mart employees) is back.

As noted, it appeared really likely that the bill was going to pass, but then national organizations that are opposed to the uniform legislation rode in with opposition.  The bill taxes multi state retail entities that are taxed in other states on the basis that they budget for it anyway, and by omitting the tax, Wyoming is simply giving away money.  Obviously large retailers and those that support them don't see it that way, and would likely prefer not to be taxed at all if possible.

Those supporting the bill were likely caught off guard by the sudden opposition and it failed, but only after a lingering death, in the last session.  Maybe it isn't dead.  The bill is interesting not only for its revenue angles, but also for the distributist nature of the bill which would operate to aid local retailers that are disadvantaged by their giant competitors.

Also under consideration is a study to look at storing spent nuclear fuel.

This has created a firestorm of opposition, not too surprisingly.  People with long memories will recall that this topic has come up in Wyoming before, and interestingly also in times of economic distress.

July 24, 2019

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Up until some time in the early 1970s, Wyoming only had a legislative session every two years. Then, with things I guess seemingly being more complicated, a change was made so that every other year was a budget session, so there's a session every year.

Theoretically, the Legislature only takes up non budge bills on an extraordinary basis in budget sessions, which is what the next session will be. That seemingly doesn't stop legislators, however, from trying to put bills forward that aren't that, and readers of the local papers will have been seeing a lot of attempts to introduce non budget bills into consideration.

Some of those probably make voters who recall the old, every two year, system, nostalgic for that.

Anyhow, one bill that just entered and died in committee was a bill to eliminate the intent element for the misdemeanor crime of trespass.

That bill died, 8 to 6, and it should have died.  It shouldn't have been introduced.  It's appalling that it was.

Wyomingites are fond of saying "Wyoming is what American was", by which some apparently have in mind America as the posts Civil War South in which large landowners became engaged in a slow burn struggle with the Yeoman class. Depressingly, the Yeoman ultimately lost out, for the second time really as they'd been the same class the wealthy planter class had used to fight for the despicable Southern racist cause in which they really had very little stake.  Wyoming's been seeing something like that in recent years.

Well, seeing that again.

We last went through this sort of struggle in the 1970s, with the Sagebrush Revolution.  Most locals were sympathetic with that at first but it soon turned against them when a push was made to vest ownership of wildlife in the hands of private landowners. That caused a storm of protests, with some legislators loosing their seats, and that idea went away. At the same time, large landowners in the UP belt became aggressive about keeping people off the public lands in the UP checker board, and that caused a huge amount of tension.

All that seemed to die away, but then it started to come back when ranches in the state started to sell to wealthy out of states that, in some cases sought to lock up the public lands associated with them.  It spread when Tea Party elements rose in the state's GOP, with those elements being well represented in certain counties and being very vocal about ideas that main stream members of the GOP regard as radical.

Indeed, Democrats are starting to see opportunities in that and for the first time the other day I read of a "resurgent Democratic Party" in the state in a context that stated it was a fact, not a wish on the Democrats part.  The GOP itself is in a civil war that burst out into the press with the moderate elements coming out again in protest of this most latest effort.

Crimes usually require intent, including the crime of trespass.  With a state as large as Wyoming in which so little is marked as to ownership, it's quite easy, even in the age of the GPS, to accidentally trespass a bit, or even a lot.  And normally, quite frankly, nobody ever knows.  Shoot, as a landowner myself, I like many local landowners frankly just ignore it.  I've bypassed people fishing on my land and hunting on my land, and once grew a bit upset with a public do gooder who sought to keep two teenage girls from riding their horses on my land.

That's what I mean in regard to my comment about the immediate post Civil War South.  Prior to the Civil War, a lot of property boundaries were harmlessly ignored. After it, the same former slave  holding class that had dragged their region into hopeless bloodshed locked it up to the determent of the locals.

Around here, in the real frontier era everyone claims to wish we were still in, there really were no property lines that were observed. We all know that. That's what made the West the West.

This effort is really shocking and could have been potentially hugely detrimental to innocent people.  If you have several misdemeanor convictions for the same crime, it can become a felony.  Nobody should have a felony for this reason.

The bill failed.  It was backed by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, of which I was once part (I let my membership lapse during a period of domestic economic conservation), which I'm now tempted to rejoin to get a voice in opposition to this sort of thing.  The WSGA has a long history, including association with some really good thing, and some really bad, such as the invasion of Johnson County.  This sort of things should stop.

It was also supported by a local law enforcement organization, which really causes me heartburn quite frankly.  Law enforcement really ought to think twice about laws being stricter and, really, probably ought to suggest that fewer things be criminal rather than more.

On that, in most of the European world, of which we are  part, where there is a fair amount of open land, there is now a Right to Roam. That day is coming here, and things like this effort are the reason why.

On other matters, a recent bill proposes to all Tribal Enrollment ID to be used for voting purposes, which is a really good idea.  It's very fair and ought to become law.  FWIW, the Democratic Party is strong among enrolled Tribal Members so this will be a minor test of people's loyalty to democracy v loyalty to party.

Also, there was discussion about eliminating the incarceration option for some traffic offenses. This actually is a budget bill as the Public Defenders office in the state quit assigning public defenders to misdemeanors in two Wyoming counties (its restored it to one) as is so short staffed.  This resulted in the head of the office being found in contempt of court, with the fine suspended until it makes its way to the Supreme Court.  Wyoming doesn't assign a defender if there's no risk of incarceration, and there really ought not to be for a lot of routine traffic offenses.  For that matter, given the era we are now in, there's a felony or two that ought to be reduced to misdemeanors.

As an aside, in the two counties in which public defenders ceased to be assigned, the local bars took note that unless there sufficient volunteers, the Court would assign local practitioners to the cases. Both counties had enough volunteers.  That's a scary thought, quite frankly, but it is a solution.  It's been done a lot of places at one time or another and its worth considering for wider application.  One problem with it, however, is now that the state has the UBE, a lot of younger "Wyoming" lawyers are actually Denver Colorado lawyers.  I frankly think that this presents an opportunity for them to be real Wyoming lawyers, and that the practice probably ought to be expanded and made to apply statewide in a method that would include the UBE lawyers who reside out of state.  It's only fair.

One interesting aspect of this, as a final aside, is that its' never proposed for prosecutor's offices, but there's no reason it can't or shouldn't be.  It often goes unnoticed by in our system prosecutors have enormous discretion on what they prosecute.  It'd be interesting to see what would happen with a lot of routine prosecutions, or even major ones, if private practitioners were introduced into the mix.

August 20, 2019.

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A legislative committee killed a couple of election related bills this week when they voted down the effort to address party switching and voted down a requirement to have photo IDs when voting.

Both bills had been backed by conservative elements in the GOP and indeed were priorities for them. As the voter cross over bill keeps coming back, vampire like, from the dead, I wouldn't be surprised to see it come back again.

September 17, 2019.

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A legislative committee has asked for the State's Legislative Service Office to draft a bill to tax wind energy.

This proposal has been floated before but this is the first time in this context.  The proposal is a serious one that aims to address budget shortfalls.  No text yet exists, but it appears that in the upcoming legislative session there will be a serious attempt to introduce such a tax to start to attempt to make up what the shortfall in other energy generated taxes has become.

September 24, 2019

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A legislative committee has approved going forward with a bill to establish a gaming commission.

How this exactly plays out isn't clear, but what appears to be the case, based on the reporting, is that the state would establish the commission and give counties the option to allow gambling.

Gambling actually has a long, and mostly illegal, history in Wyoming.  As late as the 1950s, at least, gambling was pretty openly conducted in many bars and a local one ran a big board behind the bar for the very purpose of betting on sports.  That stopped at some point and it went underground, but even well into my adult years a person could place a bet a a magazine venders here, although you had to have their confidence to do it.

In more recent years that has seemingly stopped, but due to  national legislation allowing Indian tribes, as sovereigns, to establish casinos and allow gambling on their reservations, open gambling has returned. The state attempted to prevent that early on, putting the state at odds with the tribes, but their legal effort failed.  Now the state seems ready to join the club.

Assuming that passes the legislature, of course, which might be a big presumption.  My prediction is that this bill will have a lot of opposition in the legislature.

One group of Wyoming residents who are openly opposed to it are the Tribes, and no wonder. The tribal casinos are the money makers they are as gambling isn't available elsewhere.  Two casinos have been built, neither of which I've been in (as I don't gamble), both of which are very popular.  However, except for people who live in Fremont County, they're a long drive for anyone who wants to gamble.

People do make that drive however.

If counties had the option to allow gambling, my prediction is that Fremont County, which the Reservation is in, would allow it as they already have gambling in the county and would probably want a piece of the pie.  I suspect that other counties would be more difficult to predict.  The counties bordering South Dakota would like open it up, as the neighboring South Dakota counties have it and they're getting that traffic already.  I suspect that the counties bordering Idaho and Utah would not go for it, however.  Teton and Park Counties would likely reject it as it would interfere with their image.  I suspect that Natrona County would reject it, but my guess is that Converse County would allow it.

I guess we'll see, if it becomes law.

And that's too difficult to predict.

October 6, 2019.

________________________________________________________________________________

The Tribune ran a story on the front page to expand funding for wildlife crossings.

The state effort to date to fund crossing across highways has been very successful. The expanded program will build on that.

The bill to tax out of state retailers which was initially popular last session but which met with nationally backed opposition and was defeated has been advancing again and it is itself now getting some organized opposition.  Indeed, a few nights ago, sometime in the dark of night, somebody left a door hanging type handbill in opposition to it on my door, which by morning was on the front stoop.  I picked it up when I picked up the newspaper.  The handbill was from the local expression of a very conservative national organization.

I'll be frank that I have a hard time seeing this in terms that some on the right side of the political isle do and indeed their approach to it doesn't seem "conservative" to me.  A byproduct of the bill might be to conserve local businesses, as the bill is founded on the correct belief that big national retailers actually already price the tax into their shelf price. Given that, Wyomingites already pay the tax, but what occurs is that the retailer keeps it.  Given Wyoming's very small role in the retail sales picture, and the huge role that national retailers have, the tax coming into existence in Wyoming will actually have no impact on prices in the store at all.

In reality, what it would do is put some money in the state's coffers, not do anything significant to the retailers, and probably not aid local retailers either.  Given all that, organized opposition to it, except by the national retailers themselves, doesn't make any obvious sense except on the part of those who have a philosophical opposition to nearly any taxes.

In terms of traditional liberalism and conservatism, however, its either a neutral act or a "conservative" populist one in the context of the actual meaning of the word.  It's surprising that it draws local opposition.

October 13, 2019.

_________________________________________________________________________________

A bunch of taxation bills under consideration were discussed in the Tribune today.

When reading on such things its always important to recall that at this stage the bills are just being discussed for introduction.  There's a long ways to go before any are actually discussed in the legislature.  I note that as taxation measures tend to be hugely controversial in Wyoming and the fact that there's discussion at all will likely be upsetting in some quarters.  Taxation usually is discussed, however, due to the ongoing budgetary shortfalls.

One measure would allow municipalities to add a sales tax.  I don't know much about that, so that's all I'll note.  There's a bill on the topic, but I don't know the details.

Another would propose to allow the voters of counties to make the .01 sales tax permanent.  Most (indeed so far as I'm aware of, all) counties that have the tax routinely renew it, but it has met with opposition from time to time.  I suspect the suggestion to make it a permanent tax, even with it having to get past a county's voters first, will not be popular with some.  Indeed, a frequent complaint by those opposed to the tax is that it tends to become permanent.  An additional complaint will likely be that making it permanent will remove voter input on whether the money is being appropriately applied.  That's my guess anyhow.

Other news on the legislature is that a website has appeared which rates Republican members of the legislature based on their adherence to the GOP platform.  Nobody knows who is behind it or what criteria they really use.  There's been real dissension in the GOP recently, some of it quite open, so this is an interesting envelopment.  Having said that, the sit itself is not a really well done one, production value wise, so that always makes a person wonder if the effort isn't a really limited one.

November 13, 2019

_________________________________________________________________________________

There's been a lot of news since the 2018 election of a growing rift in the Republican Party and today that news was the headline news for the Tribune.

According to senior members of the Natrona County GOP the party authorized secret investigations into those members basically for their not being conservative enough in the minds of an increasingly right wing leadership in the party.

This news has been in the paper continually over the last several months.  The Laramie County GOP nearly declared itself in open revolt over such activities while the Natrona County part made its displeasure known.  In spite of that, things seem to have gotten worse.  Things have been so surprising in this arena that even a really conservative party member from Natrona County has expressed concern.

Apparently the Party has now passed resolutions at its central committee level that declares that the party has the right to dictate all of its members' positions, according to the Tribune. The party now reserves the right to discipline members who fall out of line by way of one such resolution, and even used the word "lock step" in it.

There have always been members of any American political party who fall outside of its main.  A party is not a religion, after all, that can claim its positions as dogma.  Ironically, at least one of the greatest of Republican heroes, Theodore Roosevelt, was massively outside of the GOP mainstream for much of his political career and most of the Republican Presidents who have held office since 1950 would not fit the mold of today's GOP.

The Roosevelt example, and something I posted today on a much different political party from 1919, as well as today's Democratic Party, should all provide cautionary examples to the Wyoming GOP.  Rifts inside the GOP in Roosevelt's day caused a split in the party that caused many of its members to bolt, some permanently, and for a time the bolting party threatened to destroy the Republican Party.  Dissatisfaction with limited options inside of a political party have caused a plethora of parties to emerge in the early 20th Century, and the lock step nature of the current Democratic Party nationwide contributes, more than any other factor, to Independents being the largest single political block in the U.S.  If the Democratic Party of today was to return to allowing more leeway to individual members and politicians, as it did in the 60s and 70s, it would frankly dwarf the current GOP.

The doctrinal hard right hard line that the central party is taking in Wyoming is causing members to bolt to being Independents now.  Ironically this comes at a time when the local Democrats are all but dead for the same reasons noted above, it proved impossible for individuals to be members of a party that demanded doctrinaire positions on social issues that many former members were uncomfortable with.  If the GOP is really successful at shutting down the moderates inside the party, the refugees from the Democratic Party will be joined by refugees from the GOP.

Seeing a repeat of what occurred early in the 20th Century, with local parties springing up within a state to reflect local views, is highly unlikely.  But even right now senior members are warning that the GOP has gone so far it may now have to register itself as a lobbying organization with the state. If the GOP goes further on state lands issues, it's not impossible that local political organizations, sort of proto parties, could begin to take a serious role, and perhaps rapidly a more serious role than the parties, in endorsing candidates.  As it is, its fairly clear that the GOP leadership is to the right of its own membership and is operating contrary to the party organizations in the two largest counties in the state.

This of course opens a door to the local Democratic Party, save for the fact that the local party has lost so many rank and file members since the 1980s that it practically can't form into a larger middle of the road party.  If it valued obtaining office more than its self insulated views, it would exploit this rift, but it probably can't.  Given that, this development will be interesting to follow.  If it isn't arrested, it'll start to fracture and really weaken the local GOP, but that likely won't be to the benefit of the Democrats, at least at first.

November 22, 2019

________________________________________________________________________________

This year is a budget session, so the number of bills that will be considered should be limited, but this year is going to feature another effort to put Wyoming on Daylight Savings Time all year long.

Personally, I'd like to put the state on Standard Time all year long, but I'll take just not moving the clock twice a year no matter which way that would work.

This same bill has been attempted several times of the last few years, and never passed.  I'm not real optimistic it will this time, or even actually be considered, but it is being attempted.

January 15, 2020

_________________________________________________________________________________

Last year a legislature introduced a bill to change the age at which Wyomingites can legally marry.  Discussed in terms of ending "child" marriages, the bill raised the age at which emancipated minors could legally marry up to 18 years of age.

If this seems familiar, it's because a bill on the same topic was introduced in the 2019 legislature and failed.  This one is slightly different in that the previous bill did not take into account emancipated minors, and this one does, assuming that they are 17 years of age.  Interestingly, that bill apparently ran into opposition from those who advocate for women who are subject to domestic abuse as they were concerned that the hard "no marriages" line that the prior bill had eliminated an "escape" route for young women who were trying to escape domestic abuse.  I.e., without means and subject to violence at home, they escape into very early marriages, which is a depressing thought.

I had a long thread on the last bill and had come commentary on it, noting that marriages in this age bracket are fairly rare.  According to the article in the Tribune, the year prior to the bill being introduced there were only eight marriages in the 16-17 age bracket in the state.  Last year, however, there were apparently twenty-one.  The article speculated that a bill that rose the marriage age in Utah may have caused young couples (or I guess a couple where one member is young, that undoubtedly being the female member) to cross the border into Wyoming.  It is a very remarkable jump.

The Utah bill actually didn't ban marriages in this bracket outright actually.  Rather, it banned them when one of the spouses to be was more than seven years older than the 16 or 17 year old.  In other words, a person could be no older than 23 years old and marry a 16 year old.  If the thought of that marriage makes your skin crawl a bit, that's the point of the bill. ..  to address that situation.

Last year I noted:



This year I'm not so sure, although the libertarian impulses of the GOP have seemingly grown over the past year (the bill is sponsored by a Democrat).   But if Utah has tightened up its laws and this is causing men more than seven years old to cross the border into Wyoming (and nobody has any actual statistics on this) to marry teenagers, well that ought to be stopped, assuming that there aren't other reasons to stop this in general.

If it doesn't pass, it'll be partially because this is a budget session.  Having said that, there's also a really strong tea party movement in some county GOPs right now that might oppose it on philosophical grounds if it really gets introduced, which I doubt it will.

Anyhow, the big jump, even though its not a vast number, is surprising which suggest that if nothing else maybe Wyoming ought to cut, paste, and pass a copy of the Utah bill.

January 25, 2020

________________________________________________________________________________

It's a budget session, but so far 122 bills have been given numbers by the House of Representatives and 87 by the Senate, including budgets.  The legislature lists them all as follows:


BillCatch TitleSponsor

HB0003Wyoming energy authority-amendments.Minerals
HB0004Wyoming coal marketing program.Minerals
HB0005Driver's licenses and IDs.Transportation
HB0006Commercial operators-registration and authority to operate.Transportation
HB0007Commercial learner's permits.Transportation
HB0008Digital expression protection.Judiciary
HB0009Abstracts of court records.Judiciary
HB0010Human trafficking-penalty for subsequent conviction.Judiciary
HB0011Qualified residential treatment programs.Judiciary
HB0012Motor vehicle violations-penalties.Judiciary
HB0013Sage grouse mitigation credits.Minerals
HB0014Drilling units-risk penalties and mandatory royalties.Minerals
HB0015School capital construction account.Sel Sch Fac
HB0016Consolidation of theft crimes.Judiciary
HB0017Parent counsel and family preservation.Judiciary
HB0018Office of guardian ad litem.Judiciary
HB0019Municipal right-of-way franchise fees.Corporations
HB0020Municipal bonds-digital securities.Corporations
HB0021Insurance investments-digital assets.Corporations
HB0022Town and county development regulations.Corporations
HB0023School district procurement amendment.Sel Sch Fac
HB0024Medicaid birth costs recovery-amendments.Labor
HB0025County reserve accounts.Corporations
HB0026Tribal ID for voting.Corporations
HB0027Select committee on blockchain, technology and innovation.Corporations
HB0028Firearm regulation.Lindholm
HB0029Designation of migration corridors.Fed Nat Res
HB0030Behavioral health services task force.Labor
HB0031Criminal justice-mental health-substance use programming.Labor
HB0032Resident tuition for military members and family.Brown
HB0033Agricultural land qualification.Revenue
HB0034Motor vehicle franchises-telephone requirements.Blake
HB0035Wolf depredation compensation.Winter
HB0036Pesticide registration fee.Agriculture
HB0037Voluntary land exchange process.Agriculture
HB0038Weed and pest amendments.Agriculture
HB0039Remote education within a school district.Education
HB0040School finance - model recalibration.Education
HB0041Disclosure of private cryptographic keys.Judiciary
HB0042Good time allowances for jail time.Judiciary
HB0043Digital representation tokens.Corporations
HB0044Mountain daylight time preservation.Laursen
HB0045Special purpose depository institutions-amendments.Minerals
HB0046Special education funding.Education
HB0047Local sales and use taxes.Revenue
HB0048Voyeurism-amendments.Crank
HB0049Retirement savings information-workforce services.Wilson
HB0050Government procurement-amendments.Appropriations
HB0051Professional services procurement-amendments.Appropriations
HB0052Public works and contracts.Appropriations
HB0053Education accounts-investment earnings.Appropriations
HB0054State officials salary.Appropriations
HB0055Fishing task force.Travel
HB0056Good neighbor authority revolving account.Lindholm
HB0057Underground facilities notification-exemption.Laursen
HB0058State Engineer list of approved flumes.Sommers
HB0059Reporting of and relief from firearms disqualification.Pownall
HB0060Insurance policies-notice provisions.Stith
HB0061Motor vehicle speed evidence.Stith
HB0062Senior health care special districts.Labor
HB0063Fuel tax.Revenue
HB0064National corporate tax recapture.Revenue
HB0065Jury procedure amendments.Kirkbride
HB0066Promotion of individual invention act.Stith
HB0067Child marriage restriction.Pelkey
HB0068Sex offender-prohibited access to school facilities.Simpson
HB0069Wildlife conservation efforts-1.Transportation
HB0070State employee-moving expenses.Transportation
HB0071Wyoming public safety communications system funding.Transportation
HB0072Vehicle titles-transfers and receipts.Lindholm
HB0073Nicotine products-taxation.Revenue
HB0074Small modular nuclear reactor permitting.Miller
HB0075Medicaid expansion-authorization.Revenue
HB0076Veterans property tax exemption-access.Greear
HB0077Wyoming Law Enforcement Memorial Highway-designation.Brown
HB0078Firearms in private vehicles.Blake
HB0079Railroad safety.Blake
HB0080Land appraisal appeal process.Agriculture
HB0081Emergency water projects account.Water
HB0082Contract brewing.Loucks
HB0083UW board of trustees-selection by electorate.Gray
HB0084Food freedom amendments.Duncan
HB0085Prescription tracking program rules.Wilson
HB0086Removal of elected municipal officials.Loucks
HB0087Youth entrepreneurship exceptions.Barlow
HB0088Livestock board investigators.Sommers
HB0089Improvement and service districts-financial enforcement.Stith
HB0090State lands-notice of lease sales.Roscoe
HB0091Economic diversification incentives for mineral exploration.Miller
HB0092Pioneer archery licenses.Haley
HB0093Governmental claims-maximum liability.Kirkbride
HB0094Budget modifications-executive.Mgt Council
HB0095Building and construction projects.Walters
HB0096Dr. Leonard L. Robinson memorial bridge.Harshman
HB0097Omnibus water bill - construction.Water
HB0098Defend the Guard Act.Lindholm
HB0099Animal reimbursement program-amendments.Hunt
HB0100Naturopathy licensing.Hunt
HB0101Protection and privacy of online customer information.Yin
HB0102Wyoming combat sports commission.Olsen
HB0103Chancery court amendments.Greear
HB0104Public assistance programs.Connolly
HB0105Metal mustache freedom act.Clem
HB0106Immunization exemptions-nonrefusal of services.Clem
HB0107Neglect and abuse.Clem
HB0108Ban on sanctuary cities and counties.Gray
HB0109Electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities.Kirkbride
HB0110Non-recurring retiree inflation adjustments.Harshman
HB0111Split estates-measure of damages-3.Clausen
HB0112Wyoming retirement plans-adjustments.Henderson
HB0113Importation of prescription drugs-study.Salazar
HB0114Transportation commission contract immunity repeal.Laursen
HB0115Multi-disciplinary clinical advisory panel.Wilson
HB0116Split estates-good faith negotiations.Clausen
HB0117Exportation of mineral resources.Harshman
HB0118Second Amendment Preservation Act.Jennings
HB0119Medicaid billing for school-based services.Appropriations
HB0120CHIP-state administration.Appropriations
HB0121Legislative committees-interim topics.Jennings
HB0122Tax exemption-private school attendance.Clem
HJ0001State lands mineral royalties-constitutional amendment.Hallinan
HJ0002Taxpayer's bill of rights.Gray
SF0002Legislative budget.Mgt Council
SF0003Military department authority to accept donations.Transportation
SF0004Wildlife conservation account.Transportation
SF0005DUI limited driving privileges.Transportation
SF0006Tolling authority for I-80.Transportation
SF0007School buildings and facilities-lease reimbursements.Sel Sch Fac
SF0008Missing and murdered persons and other events-cooperation.Judiciary
SF0009Ethics and Disclosure Act amendments.Judiciary
SF0010Warrants for digital records.Judiciary
SF0011Consumer protection act amendments.Judiciary
SF0012Child sexual abuse civil action statute of limitations.Judiciary
SF0013Public defender-indigency standards.Judiciary
SF0014Probation and parole sanctions-amendments.Judiciary
SF0015Absenteeism and truancy.Education
SF0016School district procurement.Education
SF0017Hathaway need-based scholarships-graduate school.Education
SF0018Wildlife conservation efforts-2.Transportation
SF0019Ad valorem-confidentiality exception.Revenue
SF0020Election code revisions.Corporations
SF0021Coal fired electric generation facilities.Corporations
SF0022Surface water diversion.Corporations
SF0023Insurance code updates.Corporations
SF0024State employees' and officials' group insurance.Corporations
SF0025Energy production inventory exemption.Corporations
SF0026State group insurance plan-participation.Corporations
SF0027Discovered property-probate procedures.Von Flatern
SF0028Sixth judicial district-number of district judges.Von Flatern
SF0029Optometrist practice act amendments.Baldwin
SF0030Reporting of property.Revenue
SF0031University of Wyoming-land grant mission report.Agriculture
SF0032Public meetings-executive sessions for security planning.Kost
SF0033Extension agents.Agriculture
SF0034Child welfare-QRTP accreditation assistance program.Labor
SF0035Health care claims database reporting.Labor
SF0036Large scale solar and wind energy facilities.Corporations
SF0037Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.Labor
SF0038Health insurance costs-bundled payment study.Labor
SF0039Statements of consideration.Revenue
SF0040Certification of cases to state board of equalization.Revenue
SF0041Animal damage management funding.Agriculture
SF0042Nicotine products–age verification and shipping.Revenue
SF0043Sales and use tax-definitions update.Revenue
SF0044Mining permit applications-objections.Minerals
SF0045Underground disposal wells-regulation.Minerals
SF0046Wyoming Money Transmitters Act-exemption.Minerals
SF0047Digital assets-statutory amendments.Minerals
SF0048Solid waste cease and transfer program funding.Minerals
SF0049Per diem rates.Mgt Council
SF0050Nicotine products-lawful age and penalties.Revenue
SF0051Wyoming retirement plans-contributions.Appropriations
SF0052Tobacco products-mail and online sales prohibition.Revenue
SF0053Property tax exemption.Revenue
SF0054Surplus food programs.Wasserburger
SF0055Hemp production-fees.Appropriations
SF0056Absentee polling places.Case
SF0057Local government distributions.Appropriations
SF0058Wyoming education trust fund-investment earnings.Appropriations
SF0059Governmental property.Revenue
SF0060Wyoming pollution discharge elimination system fees.Appropriations
SF0061Omnibus water bill - planning.Water
SF0062Appraisal management companies-amendments.Pappas
SF0063Motor vehicles-security interest perfection.Case
SF0064Trust companies-statutory amendments.Rothfuss
SF0065Wild bison licenses.Travel
SF0066Retiring electric generation facilities-financial assurance.Driskill
SF0067Criminal trespass.Boner
SF0068Legislator salary restrictions.James
SF0069Rural health care district authority.Baldwin
SF0070Government abuse, fraud and waste reporting.James
SF0071Life insurance premiums.Case
SF0072Revisor's bill.Mgt Council
SF0073Prescription tracking program amendments.SLabor
SF0074Permit not required for using a de minimis amount of water.Water
SF0075Instream flow application process.Water
SF0076Free parking.Coe
SF0077Prescription tracking program.Labor
SF0078State capital construction-oversight.Mgt Council
SF0079School safety and security.Ellis
SF0080Handgun purchases.Rothfuss
SF0081Livestock brand administration.Agriculture
SF0082Public records-amendments.Judiciary
SF0083Budget and financial data reporting.Judiciary
SF0084Life insurance plan-legislators.Mgt Council
SF0085Uranium taxation rates.Boner
SF0086Essential health product dignity act.Ellis
SF0087Audiology and speech-language pathology compact.Pappas
SJ0001Firearm and hunter education.Driskill
SJ0002General session appropriations-constitutional amendment.James


Most of these bills are going nowhere whatsoever.  The budget session year makes that a certainty.  None the less, as usual, there are an interesting early selection.

One that directly impacts budget is the effort to recapture taxes that large businesses budget for as they pay them elsewhere, but don't pay in Wyoming due to a lack of a state corporate income tax.  That bill had a lot of traction last session, but met opposition from large entities and then died.  It's being attempted again this year.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0073



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0064


National corporate tax recapture.

Sponsored by: Joint Revenue Interim Committee


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to taxation; creating the National Corporate Tax Recapture Act; imposing a tax on businesses as specified; providing for administration of the Act; providing penalties; requiring rulemaking; requiring a report; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 3912102 through 3912111 are created to read:

3912102.  Administration; confidentiality.

(a)  This chapter is known and may be cited as the "National Corporate Tax Recapture Act".

(b)  The administration of this chapter is vested in the department of revenue. The department shall administer this chapter in accordance with the multistate tax compact to the extent that the compact does not conflict with this chapter or Wyoming law.

(c)  The department shall, to the extent practical, obtain information from the federal Internal Revenue Service to verify taxable income under this chapter. The department shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to efficiently secure the payment, collection and accounting for taxes imposed by this chapter.

(d)  Notices required to be mailed by the department under this chapter if mailed to the address shown on the records of the department shall be sufficient for the purposes of this chapter.

(e)  No state employee or other person who by his employment has knowledge of the business affairs of any person filing or required to file any tax returns under this chapter shall make known their contents in any manner or permit any person to have access to any returns or information contained therein except as provided by law. The department may also allow the following:

(i)  The delivery to the taxpayer or his legal representatives upon written request of a copy of any return or report in connection with the tax imposed by this chapter;

(ii)  The publication of statistics formatted to prevent the identification of particular returns or reports;

(iii)  The inspection by the Wyoming attorney general of the report or return of any person who brings an action against the state relating to the report or return, or against whom an action is contemplated or has been instituted;

(iv)  The introduction into evidence of any report or return or information therefrom in any administrative or court proceeding relating to the report or return and to which the person making the report or return is a party;

(v)  The furnishing of any information to the United States government and its territories, the District of Columbia, any state allowing similar privileges to the department or to the multistate tax commission for relay to tax officials of cooperating states. Information furnished shall be only for tax purposes;

(vi)  The inspection of tax returns and records by the state department of audit;

(vii)  The sharing of information with local governmental entities and other state agencies, provided a written request is made to the department and the governmental entity or agency demonstrates sufficient reason to obtain the information for official business purposes. Information furnished shall be used for official business purposes only.

(f)  The district court of the county in which violations of this subsection occur shall have jurisdiction over those violations.  No person shall:

(i)  Fail or refuse to make any return or payment required by this chapter;

(ii)  Make any false return or statement;

(iii)  Evade the payment of any tax due;

(iv)  Aid or abet another in any attempt to evade payment of the tax due;

(v)  Knowingly attest by signature to a false or fraudulent return.

3912103.  Imposition.

(a)  Taxable event. There is levied a franchise tax upon the taxable income of each taxpayer in this state as defined in W.S. 3912101(b)(iv).

(b)  A taxpayer having income from business activity in Wyoming shall allocate and apportion the taxable income of the taxpayer as provided in this subsection for the purposes of W.S. 3912101(b)(iv)(F). Allocation and apportionment of taxable business income shall be as follows:

(i)  If a taxpayer has no income from activity that is taxable outside of Wyoming, the taxpayer's entire taxable business income shall be allocated to Wyoming;

(ii)  A taxpayer having income from activity that is taxable both within and without Wyoming shall apportion and allocate the taxable business income as provided in this section;

(iii)  Income is taxable in another state if:

(A)  In that other state, the income is subject to a net income tax, a franchise tax measured by net income, a franchise tax for the privilege of doing business, a corporate stock tax or any similar tax; or

(B)  That other state has jurisdiction to subject the income to a net income tax regardless of whether, in fact, the state subjects the taxpayer to such tax.

(iv)  Taxable business income shall be apportioned to Wyoming by multiplying the income by a fraction, the numerator of which is the property factor as provided under subsection (c) of this section plus the payroll factor under subsection (d) of this section plus the sales factor under subsection (e) of this section, and the denominator of which is three (3).

(c)  The property factor shall be calculated as follows:

(i)  The property factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the average value of the taxpayer's real and tangible personal property owned or rented and used in this state during the tax period and the denominator of which is the average value of all the taxpayer's real and tangible personal property owned or rented and used during the tax period;

(ii)  Property owned by the taxpayer shall be valued at its original cost. Property rented by the taxpayer shall be valued at eight (8) times the net annual rental rate. As used in this paragraph, "net annual rental rate" means the annual rental rate paid by the taxpayer less any annual rental rate received by the taxpayer from subrentals;

(iii)  The average value of property shall be determined by averaging the values at the beginning and ending of the tax period but the director of the department of revenue may require the averaging of monthly values during the tax period if reasonably required to reflect properly the average value of the taxpayer's property.

(d)  The payroll factor shall be calculated as follows:

(i)  The payroll factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the total amount paid in this state during the tax period by the taxpayer for compensation and the denominator of which is the total compensation paid everywhere by the taxpayer during the tax period;

(ii)  Compensation is paid in this state if:

(A)  The individual's service is performed entirely within the state;

(B)  The individual's service is performed both inside and outside the state, but the service performed outside the state is incidental to the individual's service within this state; or

(C)  Some of the individual's service is performed in the state and the base of operations:

(I)  For the service or, if there is no base of operations, the place from which the service is directed or controlled is in the state; or

(II)  The place from which the service is directed or controlled is not in any state in which some part of the service is performed, but the individual's residence is in this state.

(e)  The sales factor shall be calculated as follows:

(i)  The sales factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the total sales of the taxpayer in this state during the tax period, and the denominator of which is the total sales of the taxpayer everywhere during the tax period;

(ii)  Sales of tangible personal property are in this state if the property is:

(A)  Delivered or shipped to a purchaser within this state regardless of the f.o.b. shipping point or other conditions of the sale; or

(B)  Shipped from an office, store, warehouse, factory or other place of storage in this state and the taxpayer is not taxable in the state of the purchaser.

(iii)  Sales, other than sales of tangible personal property, are in this state if the income producing activity is performed:

(A)  In this state; or

(B)  Receipts, other than receipts described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph are in this state if the taxpayer's market for the sales is in this state. The taxpayer's market for sales is in this state:

(I)  In the case of sale, rental, lease or license of real property, if and to the extent the property is located in this state;

(II)  In the case of rental, lease or license of tangible personal property, if and to the extent the property is located in this state;

(III)  In the case of sale of a service, if and to the extent the benefit of the service is received in this state;

(IV)  In the case of intangible property that is rented, leased or licensed, if and to the extent the property is used in this state, provided that intangible property used in marketing a good or service to a consumer is "used in this state" if that good or service is purchased by a consumer who is in this state; and

(V)  In the case of intangible property that is sold, if and to the extent the property is used in this state, provided that:

(1)  A contract right, government license, or similar intangible property that authorizes the holder to conduct a business activity in a specific geographic area is "used in this state" if the geographic area includes all or part of this state;

(2)  Receipts from intangible property sales that are contingent on the productivity, use, or disposition of the intangible property shall be treated as receipts from the rental, lease or licensing of the intangible property under subdivision (IV) of this subparagraph; and

(3)  All other receipts from a sale of intangible property shall be excluded from the numerator and denominator of the receipts factor.

(C)  If the state or states of attribution under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph cannot be determined, the state or states of attribution shall be determined by the state or states in which the delivery of the service occurs;

(D)  If the state of attribution cannot be determined under subparagraph (B) or (C) of this paragraph, the receipt shall be excluded from the denominator of the receipts factor.

(f)  Rents and royalties from real or tangible personal property, capital gains, interest, dividends or patent or copyright royalties, to the extent they constitute nonbusiness income, shall be allocated, net of related expenses, as provided in this section.

(g)  The department may require taxpayers to provide additional information and documentation related to apportionment, allocation of income and the property factor, payroll factor and sales factor to support an income tax return under this chapter.

(h)  If the allocation and apportionment provisions of this chapter do not fairly represent the extent of the taxpayer's business activity in this state, the taxpayer may petition for or the director of the department of revenue may require any or all of the following, if reasonable:

(i)  A separate accounting of all or a part of the business activity of the taxpayer;

(ii)  The exclusion of one (1) or more of the apportionment factors;

(iii)  The inclusion of one (1) or more additional factors which will fairly represent the taxpayer's business activity in this state;

(iv)  The use of any other method to effectuate an equitable allocation and apportionment of the taxpayer's income.

3912104.  Taxation rate.

There is levied and shall be paid by the taxpayer a tax on that portion of taxable income of the taxpayer that is allocated and apportioned to Wyoming at a rate of seven percent (7%).

3912105.  Exemptions.

There are no specific applicable provisions for exemptions for this chapter.

3912106.  Licenses and permits.

There are no specific applicable provisions for licenses and permits for this chapter.

3912107.  Compliance; collection procedures.

(a)  Returns and reports. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each taxpayer shall report their total taxable income and the portion of the income that is apportioned to Wyoming as provided in W.S. 3912103 to the department not more than thirty (30) days after the date the taxpayer is required to file a federal income tax return under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code including any extensions authorized for filing of the federal income tax return. The following shall apply to affiliated groups:

(i)  An affiliated group of corporations may make or the director of the department of revenue may require them to make a consolidated return for the tax year in place of separate returns using the combined method of accounting. For purposes of calculating the amount of tax payable by the group under a consolidated filing, the provisions of 26 U.S.C. § 1552 shall apply;

(ii)  A corporation that is a member of an affiliated group shall file a return using the water's edge reporting method. A return under this section shall include the following corporations that are part of an affiliated group with the filing corporation:

(A)  An affiliated corporation that is eligible to be included in a federal consolidated return under 26 U.S.C. § 1501 through 1505 if the corporation's property, payroll and sale factors in the United States average twenty percent (20%) or more or average under twenty percent (20%) if the corporation does not meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. § 861(c);

(B)  A domestic international sales corporation as defined in 26 U.S.C. § 992(a);

(C)  A foreign sales corporation or FSC as defined in 26 U.S.C. § 922(a);

(D)  A corporation, regardless of the place where the corporation was incorporated, if the corporation's property, payroll and sales factors in the United States average twenty percent (20%) or more.

(iii)  As used in this section:

(A)  "Affiliated corporation" means a member of an affiliated group to which the taxpayer filing a return under this section belongs;

(B)  "Affiliated group" means a group of two (2) or more corporations in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting stock of each member of the group is directly or indirectly owned by one (1) or more corporate or noncorporate owners or by one (1) or more of the members of the group;

(C)  "Foreign corporation" means a corporation created or organized outside of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a possession of the United States;

(D)  "Water's edge reporting method" means a reporting method in which the only corporations besides the taxpayer that may be included in the return are corporations listed in paragraph (ii) of this subsection.

(b)  Payment. Any taxpayer owing a tax under this chapter shall pay the tax once each year at the same time the report under subsection (a) of this section is provided. The tax shall be collected by the department.

(c)  Timelines. There are no specific applicable provisions for timelines for this chapter.

3912108.  Enforcement.

(a)  Audits. To assess credits and deficiencies against taxpayers, the department is authorized to rely on final audit findings made by the department of audit, taxpayer information or information reported by the taxpayer to the Internal Revenue Service or to the department of revenue subject to the following conditions:

(i)  Audits shall commence when the taxpayer receives written notice of the engagement of the audit. The issuance of the written notice of the audit shall toll the statute of limitations provided in W.S. 3912110 for the audit period specified in this subsection;

(ii)  After receiving notice of an audit under this subsection, the taxpayer shall preserve all records and books necessary to determine the amount of tax due for the time period that is being audited;

(iii)  Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, audits shall encompass a time period not to exceed three (3) years immediately preceding the reporting period when the audit is engaged. The three (3) year limit shall not apply to an audit if there is evidence of gross negligence or intent to evade by the taxpayer in reporting or remitting taxes for the reporting period being audited;

(iv)  If a taxpayer is not willing or able to produce adequate records to demonstrate taxes due, the department or the department of audit may project taxes based on the best information available;

(v)  The department of audit may contract with or employ auditors or other technical assistance necessary to determine whether the taxes imposed by this chapter have been properly reported and paid;

(vi)  Audits under this subsection are subject to the authority and procedures provided in W.S. 922003.

(b)  Interest. The following shall apply:

(i)  Interest at an annual rate equal to the average prime interest as determined by the state treasurer during the preceding fiscal year, plus four percent (4%), shall be added to all delinquent taxes under this chapter. To determine the average prime interest rate, the state treasurer shall average the prime interest for at least seventyfive percent (75%) of the thirty (30) largest banks in the United States.  The interest rate on delinquent taxes shall be adjusted on January 1 of each year following the year in which the taxes first became delinquent. In no instance shall the delinquent interest rate be less than twelve percent (12%) nor greater than eighteen percent (18%);

(ii)  The department may credit or waive interest imposed by this subsection as part of a settlement or for any other good cause.

(c)  Penalties. The following shall apply:

(i)  If any part of a deficiency is due to negligence or intentional disregard of rules and regulations but without intent to defraud there shall be added a penalty of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the deficiency plus interest as provided by paragraph (b)(i) of this section. The taxes, penalty and interest shall be paid by the taxpayer within ten (10) days after notice and demand is made by the department;

(ii)  If any part of the deficiency is due to fraud with intent to evade there shall be added a penalty of twentyfive percent (25%) of the amount of the deficiency plus interest as provided by paragraph (b)(i) of this section. The taxes, penalty and interest shall be paid by the taxpayer within ten (10) days after notice and demand is made by the department;

(iii)  Any person who files a false or fraudulent return is subject to the provisions of W.S. 65303;

(iv)  Any person who violates any provision of this chapter for which there are no specific penalties is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Each violation is a separate offense;

(v)  If a taxpayer fails to file a return as required by this chapter, the department shall give written notice by mail to the taxpayer to file a return on or before the last day of the month following the notice of delinquency. If a taxpayer then fails to file a return the department shall make a return from the best information available which will be prima facie correct and the tax due therein is a deficiency and subject to penalties and interest as provided by this chapter;

(vi)  The department may credit or waive penalties imposed by this subsection as part of a settlement or for any other good cause.

(d)  Liens. The following shall apply:

(i)  Any tax due under this chapter constitutes a debt to the state from the taxpayer, and is a lien from the date the tax is due on all the real and personal property of the taxpayer. Notice of the lien shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the taxpayer resides or conducts business. The lien does not have preference over preexisting secured indebtedness but shall have priority from and after the date of filing or recording. The department shall cancel lien statements within sixty (60) days after taxes due are paid or collected. No other action by the department is required to perfect a lien under this paragraph regardless of the type of property involved.

(e)  Tax sales. The following shall apply:

(i)  The tax due together with interest, penalties and costs may be collected by appropriate judicial proceedings or the department, with board approval, or its representative, may seize and sell at public auction so much of the taxpayer's property as will pay all the tax then due plus interest, penalties and costs. Notice of the auction shall be published for four (4) weeks in a newspaper published in the resident county of the taxpayer or the county in which the majority of the property is located.

3912109.  Taxpayer remedies.

(a)  Interpretation requests. A taxpayer may request and the department shall provide written interpretations of these statutes and rules adopted by the department. When requesting an interpretation, a taxpayer shall set forth the facts and circumstances pertinent to the issue. If the department deems the facts and circumstances provided to be insufficient, it may request additional information. A taxpayer may act in reliance upon a written interpretation through the end of the calendar year in which the interpretation was issued, or until revoked by the department, whichever occurs last if the pertinent facts and circumstances were substantially correct and fully disclosed.

(b)  Appeals. Except as provided by this subsection, no person aggrieved by the payment of the taxes, penalty and interest imposed by this chapter may appeal a decision of the state board of equalization until all taxes, penalty and interest have been paid. For good cause shown, the court to which the decision of the board is appealed may stay enforcement of the tax during the pendency of the appeal. The court's stay of enforcement shall not affect the accruing of interest upon any assessment and levy.

(c)  Refunds. The following shall apply:

(i)  Any tax, penalty or interest which has been erroneously paid, computed or remitted to the department by a taxpayer shall either be credited against any subsequent tax liability of the taxpayer or refunded. No credit or refund shall be allowed after three (3) years from the date of overpayment. The receipt of a claim for a refund by the department shall toll the statute of limitations under W.S. 3912110. All refund requests received by the department shall be approved or denied within ninety (90) days of receipt. Any refund or credit erroneously made or allowed may be recovered in an action brought by the attorney general in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(d)  Credits. The following shall apply:

(i)  Each taxpayer is entitled to a credit against tax liability under this chapter for all excise, sales, use, severance and ad valorem taxes paid in the tax year by the same taxpayer to any taxing authority in Wyoming. No credit shall be allowed for any tax collected or remitted by the taxpayer on behalf of another person including property taxes paid by the taxpayer on property that is not owned by the taxpayer. The taxpayer shall report the credit to the department on the return filed under W.S. 3912107. The department may require supporting documentation on the credit claimed under this paragraph. In no case shall any refund be due or payable if the amount of the credit claimed by any taxpayer under this paragraph exceeds the amount of tax due under this chapter. False claims are punishable as provided by W.S. 65303;

(ii)  The taxpayer is entitled to receive an offsetting credit for any overpaid tax identified by an audit that is within the scope of the audit period, without regard to the limitation period for requesting refunds.

(e)  Redemption. There are no specific applicable provisions for redemption for this chapter.

(f)  Escrow. There are no specific applicable provisions for escrow for this chapter.

3912110.  Statute of limitations.

(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no credit or refund shall be allowed after three (3) years from the date of overpayment. The receipt of a claim for a refund by the department shall toll the statute of limitations.

(b)  The department may bring an action to recover any delinquent taxes, penalty or interest in any appropriate court within three (3) years following the delinquency. In the case of an assessment created by an audit, the delinquency period is deemed to start thirty (30) days after the date the assessment letter is sent. Any tax penalty and interest related to the audit assessment shall be calculated from the date on which the deficiency occurred. In any such action a certificate by the department is prima facie evidence of the amount due.

3912111.  Distribution.

Revenues collected under W.S. 3912104 during each fiscal year shall be recognized as revenue during that fiscal year for accounting purposes. For all revenue collected by the department under W.S. 3912104 the department shall credit one hundred percent (100%) to the school foundation program account.

Section 2.  W.S. 3912101 is amended to read:

3912101.  Preemption by state; definitions.

(a)  The state of Wyoming does hereby preempt for itself the field of imposing and levying income taxes, earning taxes, or any other form of tax based on wages or other income and no county, city, town or other political subdivision shall have the right to impose, levy or collect such taxes.

(b)  To the extent they do not conflict with the provisions of this chapter, the terms and definitions of the Internal Revenue Code shall apply to this chapter. As used in this chapter:

(i)  "Business income" means income arising from transactions and activity in the regular course of the taxpayer's trade or business and includes income from tangible and intangible property if the acquisition, management and disposition of the property constitute integral parts of the taxpayer's regular trade or business operations;

(ii)  "Nonbusiness income" means all income other than business income;

(iii)  "Tax year" means the taxable year used by the taxpayer for purposes of the federal income tax;

(iv)  "Taxable income" means the federal taxable income of a taxpayer as computed under the Internal Revenue Code and reported by the taxpayer to the Internal Revenue Service on federal form 1120, adjusted as follows:

(A)  Reduced by any interest received from obligations of the United States that is included in taxable income or in the computation of taxable income on the federal tax return;

(B)  Reduced by any other income included in the taxable income or in the computation of taxable income which is exempt from taxation by this state because of the provisions of the Constitution of Wyoming or the Constitution of the United States;

(C)  Increased by the amount of any income taxes, including income taxes of foreign countries, or franchise or privilege taxes measured by income, to the extent that the taxes were deducted to determine federal taxable income;

(D)  Increased to remove any deductions taken for sales, use and ad valorem taxes paid in the tax year by the same taxpayer to any taxing authority in Wyoming;

(E)  Increased by the amount of any special deductions and net operating loss deductions to the extent that these items were deducted in determining federal taxable income;

(F)  Reduced by the amount of income not allocated and apportioned to this state under the provisions of W.S. 3912103, but only to the extent that the amount of net income not allocated and apportioned to this state under the provisions of that section is not included in any adjustment made pursuant to the preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph;

(G)  The total sum calculated pursuant to the preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph shall be reduced by the amount of any net operating loss that is attributable to Wyoming sources. If the net operating loss that is attributable to Wyoming sources exceeds the taxable income calculated pursuant to the preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph, the excess may be carried forward for the same time period that an identical federal net operating loss may be carried forward. If a corporation uses an apportionment formula to determine the amount of income that is attributable to Wyoming, the corporation shall use the same formula to determine the amount of net operating loss that is attributable to Wyoming. No deduction may be taken for a carryforward when determining the amount of net operating loss that is attributable to Wyoming sources.

(v)  "Taxpayer" means any person who has taxable income earned in Wyoming and who files or is required to file federal form 1120 with the Internal Revenue Service if the corporation or the affiliated group as defined in W.S. 3912107(a)(iii)(B) has more than one hundred (100) shareholders. For purposes of this paragraph, an employee stock ownership plan shall count as one (1) shareholder regardless of the number of employees in the plan. "Taxpayer" shall not include any person who makes an election as an unincorporated entity and shall not include a limited liability company that makes an election to file taxes on federal form 1120 to the Internal Revenue Service regardless of the number of members of the limited liability company.

Section 3.  The department of revenue shall adopt rules under W.S. 3911102 as necessary to begin collection of the tax created by this act for tax years beginning in 2021.

Section 4.  The department of revenue shall investigate the advisability of Wyoming becoming a member state of the multistate tax commission and the advisability of adopting all or a portion of the multistate tax compact. The investigation shall include a determination of what statutory changes would be required for Wyoming to become a member of the multistate tax commission and any other actions that would be necessary for membership. The department shall report the results of the investigation under this section to the joint revenue interim committee not later than September 1, 2020.

Section 5.

(a)  Sections 3 through 5 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(b)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a) of this section, this act is effective January 1, 2021.

(END)

1
HB0064


Some, if looked at closely, express concerns for the future, essentially attempting to preclude an imagined future more left wing Wyoming from doing things that no community in Wyoming would do now.

Such, for example, is a provision that seeks to prohibit gun buy back efforts, something that no community in the state dreams of attempting. That bill states:

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0028


Firearm regulation.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Lindholm, Blackburn, Blake, Clem, Greear, Loucks, MacGuire and Olsen and Senator(s) Coe, Driskill, Landen, Pappas and Schuler


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to firearms; clarifying the applicability of the preemption of firearms regulation by the state; prohibiting governmental entities from operating firearm buyback programs; conforming language; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 68401(c), by creating new subsections (d) and (e) and 68403(a)(vii) are amended to read:

68401.  Firearm, weapon and ammunition regulation and prohibition by state; preemption of gun buyback programs.

(c)  The sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use and possession of firearms, weapons and ammunition shall be authorized, regulated and prohibited by the state, and regulation thereof is preempted by the state. Except as authorized by W.S. 151103(a)(xviii) and 213132 and as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter, no city, town, county, political subdivision or any other governmental entity shall authorize, regulate or prohibit the sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use, carrying or possession of firearms, weapons, accessories, components or ammunition. except as specifically provided by this chapter. This section shall not affect zoning or other ordinances which encompass firearms businesses along with other businesses. Zoning and other ordinances which are designed for the purpose of restricting or prohibiting the sale, purchase, transfer or manufacture of firearms or ammunition as a method of regulating firearms or ammunition are in conflict with this section and are prohibited.

(d)  No city, town, county, political subdivision, state agency or entity or any other governmental entity shall operate a firearm buyback program or participate in the implementation, administration or operation of a firearm buyback program.

(e)  As used in this section:

(i)  "Ammunition" means any projectile expelled by action of an explosive from a firearm;

(ii)  "Firearm" means any weapon which will or is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;

(iii)  "Firearm accessories" means as defined in W.S. 68403(a)(iv);

(iv)  "Firearm buyback program" means a program designed to reduce the number of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition owned by members of the public through the purchase of privately owned firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition. The term does not include any other program operated by a law enforcement agency to purchase firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition to be used for law enforcement purposes.

68403.  Definitions.

(a)  As used in this act:

(vii)  "This act" means W.S. 68401 68402 through 68406;

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

There are actually a surprising number of firearms bills this session.  Another one attempts to preserve the age old Wyoming custom of people keeping firearms in their cars.

An interesting thing about this one is that it clashes with another cherished Wyoming notion, the absolute right, as some people imagine it, of property owners to control their properties.

Firearms in private vehicles.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Blake, Clem, Duncan, Harshman, Larsen, Lindholm and Olsen and Senator(s) Driskill, Hicks and Nethercott


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to employment; allowing firearms to be stored in a motor vehicle located in an employer's motor vehicle parking area; providing exemptions and immunity; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 2716101 through 2716104 are created to read:

CHAPTER 16
PROTECTION OF SECURED FIREARMS IN PRIVATE VEHICLES

2716101.  Title.

This act shall be known as the "Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Private Vehicles Act."

2716102.  Definitions.

(a)  As used in this act:

(i)  "Employee" means any person who:

(A)  Works for salary, wages or other compensation;

(B)  Is an independent contractor; or

(C)  Is a volunteer, intern or other similar individual.

(ii)  "Employer" means any business that is a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, professional association, cooperative, joint venture, trust, firm, institution, entity or association that has employees;

(iii)  "Firearm" means as defined by W.S. 68403(a)(iii);

(iv)  "Motor vehicle" means as defined by W.S. 311101(a)(xv);

(v)  "Motor vehicle parking" means an area available for temporary or longterm parking or storage of motor vehicles that is available to employees, customers or invitees;

(vi)  "This act" means W.S. 2716101 through 2716104.

2716103.  Protection of certain activities; firearms.

(a)  An employer shall not establish, maintain or enforce any policy or rule that has the effect of prohibiting any employee from transporting or storing a firearm in a motor vehicle on any property designated for motor vehicle parking, if:

(i)  The employee is not otherwise prohibited from transporting, possessing, purchasing, receiving, transferring or storing the firearm;

(ii)  The firearm is in a motor vehicle that is securely locked or is in a locked container attached to the motor vehicle while the motor vehicle is not occupied; and

(iii)  The firearm is not in plain view from the outside of the motor vehicle.

(b)  An employer has no duty of care to any person as a result of complying with the provisions of this act.

(c)  An employer that complies with this act is not liable in any criminal or civil action for damages resulting from or arising out of an occurrence involving the transportation or storage of a firearm in a motor vehicle on property designated for motor vehicle parking. This immunity shall not apply to acts or omissions unrelated to compliance with this act, constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

(d)  Nothing in this act shall be construed to expand any existing duty, or create any additional duty, on the part of an employer or that employer's agent.

2716104.  Exemptions.

(a)  The provisions of this act allowing the transportation or storage of firearms in motor vehicles shall not apply to:

(i)  The University of Wyoming, community colleges and schools, including any school building or school grounds in Wyoming and other properties owned or leased by a school;

(ii)  Government entities, including the federal government and its agencies, state agencies, cities, towns, counties and political subdivisions of the state;

(iii)  Religious organizations, including religious organizations acting as an employer.

(b)  Nothing in this act shall affect restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons as provided in W.S. 68104(t).

(c)  This act shall not apply to any property owned or leased by an employer upon which possession of a firearm is prohibited under federal law.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
HB0078

A different set of legislators wants to impose a three day waiting period on the purchase of a handgun.  This bill is going to go nowhere.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0492



SENATE FILE NO. SF0080


Handgun purchases.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Rothfuss and Representative(s) Connolly and Furphy


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to firearms; providing for a waiting period for the purchase of a handgun; providing an exemption; providing criminal penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 68205 is created to read:

68205.  Waiting period for handgun purchases; exemption; penalties.

(a)  No firearms dealer shall deliver a handgun to a person who has purchased a handgun until three (3) business days have elapsed from the date of the purchase to the date of the delivery.

(b)  Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the sale and delivery of a handgun if another handgun is exchanged or otherwise traded in by the purchaser during the same transaction.

(c)  Any firearms dealer who violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both. A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), or both.

(d)  As used in this section:

(i)  "Handgun" means a firearm designed to be operated with one (1) hand including, without limitation, a pistol, derringer or revolver;

(ii)  "Firearms dealer" means any person holding a federal firearms license.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
SF0080

Another bill in the nature of making illegal what isn't happening here anyway is one directed at "sanctuary cities".  Absent perhaps Jackson, which hasn't done this, this isn't going to happen in Wyoming, and it probably won't in Jackson.  A bill in the legislature proposes to address it anyway.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0014



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0108


Ban on sanctuary cities and counties.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Gray, Eyre, Jennings, Lindholm, Loucks, Salazar, Tass and Washut and Senator(s) Bebout and James


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to cities, towns and counties; banning the implementation of immigration sanctuary policies by cities, towns and counties; providing penalties; requiring certification of compliance; requiring a report; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 151131 and 182116 are created to read:

151131.  Prohibition on immigration sanctuary policies by cities and towns; certification of compliance.

(a)  No governing body of a city or town, whether acting through its governing body or by an initiative, referendum or any other process, shall enact, adopt, implement or enforce any policy that prohibits or restricts local officials or employees from communicating or cooperating with federal officials or law enforcement officers with regard to reporting immigration status information while the local official or employee is acting within the scope of their official duties.

(b)  Any governing body of a city or town that acts in violation of this section shall be subject to the withholding of state funding and state administered federal funding, unless otherwise specifically provided by law.

(c)  As used in this section:

(i)  "Federal officials or law enforcement officers" means any person employed by the United States government for the purpose of enforcing or regulating federal immigration laws and any peace officer as defined in W.S. 72101(a)(iv) when the person or peace officer is acting within the scope of their employment for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws or preserving homeland security;

(ii)  "Immigration status" means the legality or illegality of an individual's presence in the United States as determined by federal law;

(iii)  "Immigration status information" means any information which is not confidential or privileged by law including any statement, document, computer generated data, recording or photograph that is relevant to immigration status or the identity or location of an individual who is reasonably believed to be illegally residing within the United States or who is involved in international or domestic terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2331;

(iv)  "Local official or employee" means any elected or appointed official, supervisor or managerial employee, contractor, agent or certified peace officer acting on behalf of or in conjunction with a city or town;

(v)  "Policy" means any regulation, rule, policy or practice adopted by the governing body of a city or town.

182116.  Prohibition on immigration sanctuary policies by counties; certification of compliance.

(a)  No governing body of a county, whether acting through its governing body or by an initiative, referendum or any other process, shall enact, adopt, implement or enforce any policy that prohibits or restricts local officials or employees from communicating or cooperating with federal officials or law enforcement officers with regard to reporting immigration status information while the local official or employee is acting within the scope of their official duties.

(b)  Any governing body of a county that acts in violation of this section shall be subject to the withholding of state funding and state administered federal funding, unless otherwise specifically provided by law.

(c)  As used in this section:

(i)  "Federal officials or law enforcement officers" means any person employed by the United States government for the purpose of enforcing or regulating federal immigration laws and any peace officer as defined in W.S. 72101(a)(iv) when the person or peace officer is acting within the scope of their employment for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws or preserving homeland security;

(ii)  "Immigration status" means the legality or illegality of an individual's presence in the United States as determined by federal law;

(iii)  "Immigration status information" means any information which is not confidential or privileged by law including any statement, document, computer generated data, recording or photograph that is relevant to immigration status or the identity or location of an individual who is reasonably believed to be illegally residing within the United States or involved in international or domestic terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2331;

(iv)  "Local official or employee" means any elected or appointed official, supervisor or managerial employee, contractor, agent or certified peace officer acting on behalf of or in conjunction with a county;

(v)  "Policy" means any regulation, rule, policy or practice adopted by the governing body of a county.

Section 2.  This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0108

At least one bill is clearly unconstitutional, a quixotic bill that seeks to limit the ability of the National Guard to be Federalized.  The Guard is a reserve of the U.S. Army, and this bill is flatly illegal.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0331



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0098


Defend the Guard Act.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Lindholm, Barlow, Blackburn, Blake, Clem, Clifford, Duncan, Henderson, Hunt, Olsen and Pelkey and Senator(s) Biteman, Case, Hicks and Rothfuss


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to defense forces and affairs; specifying requirements before the Wyoming national guard or state militia may be released from the state into active duty combat; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 198101 by creating a new subsection (d), 199103 by creating a new subsection (b) and 199204(b) are amended to read:

198101.  Organized and unorganized militia; defend the militia.

(d)  No militia of the state shall be released from the state into active duty combat except in accordance with W.S. 199103(b).

199103.  Manner of calling for duty; defend the guard.

(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Wyoming national guard and any member thereof shall not be released from the state into active duty combat unless the United States congress has passed an official declaration of war or has taken an official action pursuant to article I, section 8, clause 15 of the United States constitution to explicitly call forth the Wyoming national guard and any member thereof for a purpose specified in article I, section 8, clause 15 of the United States constitution.  The governor shall take all actions necessary to comply with the requirements of this subsection.  As used in this subsection, "active duty combat" means performing the following services in the active federal service of the United States:

(i)  Participation in an armed conflict;

(ii)  Performance of a hazardous service in a foreign state; or

(iii)  Performance of a duty through an instrumentality of war.

199204.  Command of military force called into service.

(b)  Subject to W.S. 199103(b), the national guard of the state may be ordered into the service of the United States by the president of the United States for any purpose for which he is authorized to use militia of the states by the constitution of the United States.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
HB0098

The last provision of that bill actually seeks to subject the President of the United States to a Wyoming statutory provision. That's not going to pass legal muster.

Interesting, the primary sponsor of this bill is a veteran of one of the recent wars and has really campaigned on his opposition to them, which makes his election in Wyoming surprising.  He's also pretty clearly, based on his other bills, in the Libertarian camp, which might explain a bill like HB0098.

Bills like this are what caused State Guard units to form just prior to World War One, fwiw.

Somebody wants to speed up land transfers where private property owners are swapping land for state lands. Given recent legislative efforts that would sell public lands, whether or not they state that they'd do this, this one bears watching.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0149



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0037


Voluntary land exchange process.

Sponsored by: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to state lands; authorizing the development of an expedited process for the exchange of state lands for the purpose of public access to state lands; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 361111 by creating a new subsection (b) is amended to read:

361111.  Orders, rules and regulations relative to exchange of lands.

(b)  The board of land commissioners is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to enable the expedited exchange of state lands, initiated by the lessee of the state lands, for private lands on a value for value basis. The expedited process under this subsection shall be used if the board determines that, in addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the exchange of lands would facilitate legal access to state or federal lands including, without limitation, exchanging an isolated parcel for a parcel contiguous with other state lands.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
HB0037


2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0312



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0044


Mountain daylight time preservation.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Laursen, Barlow, Blackburn, Lindholm, Olsen, Sommers and Yin and Senator(s) Case, Driskill and Gierau


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to legal time; requiring an application for the state to transfer time zones as specified; establishing a new uniform state time; specifying contingencies; making legislative findings; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)  The legislature finds that:

(i)  The federal Standard Time Act of 1918, P.L. 65-106, 40 Stat. 450, established standard time zones for the United States bounded by designated meridian lines, including the zone designated as United States standard mountain time in which the state of Wyoming is placed, and the standard time zone designations have since become geographic names of regional identity;

(ii)  The federal Uniform Time Act of 1966, P.L. 89-387, 80 Stat. 107, 15 U.S.C. 260 et seq., was enacted by Congress to promote the adoption and observance of uniform time within the standard time zones of the United States. It standardized an annual one (1) hour advancement from standard time in April of each year, commonly called "daylight saving time," and an annual return to standard time approximately six (6) months later. A 2005 amendment to the Federal Uniform Time Act of 1966, P.L. 109-58, 119 Stat. 594, adjusted the daylight saving advancement date to mid-March and the return date to early November;

(iii)  The federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 authorizes a state that is entirely situated within one (1) time zone, as the state of Wyoming is, to exempt itself from the change to daylight saving time as long as it does so uniformly as an entire state;

(iv)  The residents and businesses of the state of Wyoming have become more habituated to the eight (8) months of daylight saving time per year than the four (4) months of standard time per year; and

(v)  The biannual change of time between mountain standard time and mountain daylight time is disruptive to commerce and to the daily schedules of the residents of the state of Wyoming.

Section 2.

(a)  Upon the enactment of a law similar to this act that authorizes an application for the same time zone change in Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado, the governor shall apply to the United States secretary of transportation for the state of Wyoming to be transferred to the zone designated as United States standard central time by the federal Standard Time Act of 1918.

(b)  Upon approval of a transfer to the zone designated as United States standard central time by the United States secretary of transportation, the uniform time within the state of Wyoming shall be coordinated universal time offset by six (6) hours throughout the year.  The state of Wyoming shall then exempt itself from the provisions of federal law providing for the advancement of time.

(c)  Upon approval of a transfer to the zone designated as United States standard central time by the United States secretary of transportation, the uniform time within the state of Wyoming shall be known as mountain daylight saving time unless the other states applying for a time zone change uniformly select another name for the uniform time.

Section 3. This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0044


As has already been noted, the bill to make illegal "child marriage" is back.  This was discussed above.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0066



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0067


Child marriage restriction.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Pelkey, Blake, Clifford, Connolly and Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Anselmi-Dalton and Nethercott


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the creation of marriage; increasing the minimum marriageable age; providing an exception for emancipated minors; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 32201(b)(vi), 141202(a)(i) by creating a new subparagraph (F), 201102(a) and (b), 201103(c)(iii), 201105(a) and 202101(a) by creating a new paragraph (iv) and (b) are amended to read:

32201.  Powers and duties of guardian.

(b)  The guardian may:

(vi)  Consent to the marriage or adoption of the ward unless otherwise prohibited by law.

141202.  Application for emancipation decree; effect of decree.

(a)  Upon written application of a minor under jurisdiction of the court and notwithstanding any other provision of law, a district court may enter a decree of emancipation in accordance with this act. In addition to W.S. 141101(b), the decree shall only:

(i)  Recognize the minor as an adult for purposes of:

(F)  Entering into a civil contract of marriage.

201102.  Minimum marriageable age.

(a)  At the time of marriage the parties shall be at least sixteen (16) eighteen (18) years of age except as otherwise provided.

(b)  All marriages involving a person under sixteen (16) eighteen (18) years of age are prohibited and voidable, void unless the contracting party who was under eighteen (18) years of age was emancipated pursuant to W.S. 141201 through 141206 or under the laws of another state before contracting the marriage. a judge of a court of record in Wyoming approves the marriage and authorizes the county clerk to issue a license therefor.

201103.  License; required.

(c)  Unless there is an order to waive the requirements of this section by a judge of a court of record in the county pursuant to W.S. 201105, the clerk shall refuse to issue a license if:

(iii)  Either party is a minor, and the consent of a parent or guardian has not been given except if the minor is emancipated pursuant to W.S. 141201 through 141206 or under the laws of another state.

201105.  Judge may order license issued.

(a)  If any county clerk refuses to issue a license to marry, or in case of circumstances arising which would necessitate the waiver of any one (1) or more of the requirements of W.S. 201102 and 201103(b) and (c), either applicant for the license may apply to the district court of the county for the issuance of a license without compliance with one (1) or more of those requirements. If the judge finds that a license should be issued, or such circumstances exist that it is proper that any one (1) or more of the requirements should be waived, the judge may order in writing the issuance of the license. Upon the order of the judge being filed with the county clerk, the county clerk shall issue the license at the time specified in the order. No fee or court costs shall be charged or taxed for the order. Unless the applicant is emancipated pursuant to W.S. 141201 through 141206 or under the laws of another state, no district court shall order the issuance of a license to marry under this subsection to any applicant under eighteen (18) years of age.

202101.  Void and voidable marriages defined; annulments.

(a)  Marriages contracted in Wyoming are void without any decree of divorce:

(iv)  When either party was under the age of legal consent and was not emancipated pursuant to W.S. 141201 through 141206 or under the laws of another state before contracting the marriage.

(b)  A marriage is voidable if solemnized when either party was under the age of legal consent unless a judge gave consent, if they separated during nonage and did not cohabit together afterwards, or if the consent of one (1) of the parties was obtained by force or fraud and there was no subsequent voluntary cohabitation of the parties.

Section 2.  W.S. 201102(c) and 201105(b) are repealed.

Section 3.  This act shall apply to all marriages  entered into on and after the effective date of this act and shall not affect any marriage entered into prior to that date.

Section 4.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
HB0067

Perhaps because they've been in the news so much recently, some legislators want to make the UW Board of Trustees elected.

College boards are, but they're very local.  Chances are high that this would be one more elected office that people don't really pay any attention to.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0249



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0083


UW board of trustees-selection by electorate.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Gray, Jennings and Salazar and Senator(s) Bouchard and James


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the University of Wyoming board of trustees; providing for selection of prospective appointees by the electorate and providing for gubernatorial appointment; authorizing removal for cause; modifying trustee terms; conforming provisions; repealing an inconsistent provision; providing applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 2218113 is created to read:

2218113.  Applicability to members of the University of Wyoming board of trustees.

This chapter shall not apply to the selection and appointment of members to the University of Wyoming board of trustees.

Section 2.  W.S. 91202(a), 2117201, 2117202(a) and by creating new subsections (c) and (d), 2117203, 221102 by creating a new subsection (b), 222105(a)(ii)(intro), 224304(a), 225206(a), 225208(a)(i), 225215, 226117(a) by creating a new paragraph (xii), 226120(a)(x), 2216116, 2216121(b) and 2225107(a)(iii) are amended to read:

91202.  Removal of appointive officers and commissioners; reason for removal to be filed.

(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as otherwise provided in this section, any person may be removed by the governor, at the governor's pleasure, if appointed by the governor to serve as head of a state agency, department or division, or as a member of a state board or commission.  The governor may only remove a member of the Wyoming business council as provided in W.S. 912103. The governor may only remove a member of the University of Wyoming board of trustees as provided in W.S. 2117202.

2117201.  Composition; selection and appointment; quorum.

The government of the university is vested in a board of twelve (12) eight (8) trustees appointed by the governor, no two (2) of whom may be residents of the same county of the state in accordance with this sectionAt least One (1) trustee shall be appointed from each of the seven (7) appointment district pursuant to districts designated in W.S. 91218. Not more than seventyfive percent (75%) of the members of the board shall be registered in the same political party. The electors of each appointment district at a general election shall select two (2) prospective appointees for the applicable trustee position. On or about January 15 immediately following a general election, the governor shall appoint one (1) of the two (2) prospective appointees to fill an open position. In addition, at a general election the electors of the state shall select two (2) prospective appointees to be chairman of the board of trustees. On or about January 15 immediately following a general election, the governor shall appoint one (1) of the two (2) prospective appointees to fill the position of board chairman. All appointees shall be subject to the advice and consent of the senate. The governor, the president of the university, the state superintendent of public instruction and the president of the associated students of the university are members ex officio, having the right to speak, but not to vote. A majority of the board is a quorum.

2117202.  Term; vacancies; members of faculty disqualified; removal.

(a)  The term of office of the trustees appointed is six (6) four (4) years.  During each session of the legislature, the governor shall nominate, and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint successors to those trustees whose term of office has expired or will expire before the next session of the legislature. Any vacancy in the board of trustees caused by death, resignation, removal from the state, failure of the senate to confirm appointment in the first legislative session following appointment or otherwise, shall be filled by appointment by the governor as provided in W.S. 2812101 this section.

(c)  The governor shall fill a vacancy in the board of trustees by appointing the prospective appointee selected through election for the trustee position under W.S. 2117201 but not appointed by the governor. That appointee may serve as trustee for the remainder of the term unless the senate fails to confirm the appointment in the legislative session first following appointment, in which case the trustee position shall be vacant. Subsequent vacancies in a trustee position prior to a general election at which prospective appointees are to be selected shall be filled for the remainder of the term in accordance with the following:

(i)  The governor shall immediately notify in writing the chairman of the state central committee of the political party which last represented the trustee position at the time of appointment. The chairman shall call a meeting of the state central committee to be held not later than fifteen (15) days after he receives notice of the vacancy.  At the meeting the state central committee shall select and transmit to the governor the names of three (3) persons qualified to hold the trustee position. Within five (5) days after receiving these three (3) names, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment of one (1) of the three (3) to hold the position. If the person who has vacated the position did not represent a political party at the time of appointment the governor shall notify in writing the chairman of all state central committees of parties registered with the secretary of state.  Each state central committee shall submit to the governor, within fifteen (15) days after notice of the vacancy, the name of one (1) person qualified to hold the position.  The governor shall also cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the state notice of the vacancy in the position.  Persons qualified to hold the position who do not belong to a party may, within fifteen (15) days after publication of the vacancy in the position, submit a petition signed by one hundred (100) registered voters, seeking consideration for appointment.  Within five (5) days after receiving the names of qualified persons, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment, from the names submitted or from those petitioning for appointment.

(d)  No member of the faculty, while holding that position, shall ever be appointed a trustee.  The governor may only remove any a trustee as provided in W.S. 91202 for cause.

2117203.  To be body corporate; powers, duties and functions generally.

The board of trustees and their successors in office constitute a body corporate by the name of "the trustees of the University of Wyoming".  They possess all the powers necessary or convenient to accomplish the objects and perform the duties prescribed by law, and shall have custody of the books, records, buildings and all other property of the university.  The board shall elect a chairman, secretary and treasurer, who shall perform the duties prescribed in the bylaws of the board.  The treasurer shall execute a bond, with approved sureties in double the sum likely to come into his hands, for the faithful discharge of his duties.  The term of office of board officers the secretary and the treasurertheir duties severally duties of board officers and the times for holding meetings shall be fixed in the bylaws of the board.  A majority of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business but a less number may adjourn from time to time, and all routine business may be entrusted to an executive committee of no fewer than three (3) members subject to such conditions as the bylaws of the board prescribe.  The board may from time to time appoint and authorize a person to examine and approve for payment all legal claims against the corporation.  The person shall give bond with surety approved by the board, payable to the state of Wyoming in such sum as the board may fix, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties.  A certificate of appointment signed by the chairman and secretary of the board and the bond shall be filed with the state auditor.  At each meeting of the board all action taken by the person so appointed subsequent to the immediately preceding board meeting shall be submitted to the board for its approval or disapproval.  The actual and necessary traveling expenses of nonresident members in attending the annual meeting of the board may be audited by the auditing committee thereof and paid by warrant on the treasurer out of the general fund of the university.

221102.  Definitions.

(b)  As used in this act unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, "nominated" or "elected" to public office or other similar term shall include the selection of prospective appointees to the University of Wyoming board of trustees in accordance with W.S. 2117201.

222105.  Terms of office and offices voted on at general elections.

(a)  The terms of office and offices voted on at general elections are as follows:

(ii)  Four Year Term.  At the general election in 1974 and in every fourth (4th) year thereafter, there shall be elected the following officers: one (1) governor, one (1) secretary of state, one (1) state treasurer, one (1) state auditor, one (1) superintendent of public instruction, county clerks, county treasurers, county assessors, county coroners, county and prosecuting attorneys, district attorneys, sheriffs, clerks of the district court. At the general election in 2020 and in every fourth (4th) year thereafter, there shall be selected two (2) prospective appointees for each of the eight (8) trustee positions on the University of Wyoming board of trustees. At every general election there shall be elected the necessary member or members of the Wyoming senate and county commissioners. The question of retention of a circuit court judge or a magistrate of the circuit court shall be submitted:

224304.  Certification of candidates; fees.

(a)  The chairman and secretary of the state political convention shall certify to the secretary of state the names of its party's nominees for United States senator, United States representative, University of Wyoming board trustee, all elective state offices and legislative offices.

225206.  Where nomination applications to be filed.

(a)  Nomination applications for United States senators and representatives in congress, state offices, members of the legislature, University of Wyoming board trustees, circuit court judges, and state district court judges shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.

225208.  Filing fees; exception.

(a)  Applications shall be accompanied by the following fees:

(i)  Twentyfive dollars ($25.00) for the offices of state senator, state representative, University of Wyoming board trustee to an appointment district, district attorney and for the offices to be voted for by electors wholly within a county;

225215.  Nomination of partisan candidates and writein candidates.

On each party ballot the candidate or candidates equal in number to the number to be elected to each office who receive the largest number of votes shall be nominated and shall be entitled to have their names printed on the ballot for the next general election. For appointed positions on the University of Wyoming's board of trustees, the two (2) candidates who receive the largest number of votes on each party ballot shall be nominated and shall be entitled to have their names printed on the ballot for the next general election. A writein candidate shall not be nominated and shall not be entitled to have his name printed on the ballot for the next general election unless he received at least twentyfive (25) writein votes. An unsuccessful candidate for office at a primary election whose name is printed on any party ballot may not accept nomination for the same office at the next general election.

226117.  Order of listing offices in partisan elections.

(a)  The major party primary and general partisan election ballots shall contain the offices to be voted on in the following order:

(xii)  Candidates for University of Wyoming board trustees.

226120.  Format of general election ballot.

(a)  The general election ballot shall be printed in substantial compliance with this format:

(x)  Below the names of candidates for each office shall be printed blank lines for writein candidates equal in number to the number of persons to be elected. In the case of selection of University of Wyoming board trustees for appointment, two (2) blank lines for writein candidates shall be printed for each person to be appointed by the governor;

2216116.  Statewide abstract; discrepancies with county abstracts.

From the unofficial tabulations delivered directly to his office, the secretary of state shall tabulate a statewide abstract by counties of votes for president and vicepresident, state officers, justice of the supreme court, United States senator, representative in congress, district court judges, circuit court judges, members of the state legislature, University of Wyoming board trustee and the votes for and against ballot propositions voted on by electors of a district larger than a county. The unofficial  tabulation shall then be reconciled to the official abstracts of the county canvassing boards and the secretary of state shall prepare the state abstract from the official county abstracts.

2216121.  Certificates of nomination, selection and election following state or county canvass.

(b)  The governor shall issue a certificate of election to a candidate duly elected to an office to be filled by electors of the state, district court judges, circuit court judges and members of the state legislature. The governor shall issue a certificate of selection to a candidate duly selected for prospective appointment to the office of University of Wyoming board trustee. The county clerk shall issue a certificate of election to each candidate duly elected to a county or precinct office in the county and to members elected to boards of trustees of special districts, school or community college districts and city or town councils.

2225107.  Where reports to be filed.

(a)  All reports required under this chapter shall be filed as follows:

(iii)  Any candidate for statewide office or University of Wyoming board trustee shall file with the secretary of state;

Section 3.  W.S. 2117202(b) is repealed.

Section 4.  New members to the University of Wyoming board of trustees shall be selected in accordance with this act in the 2020 general election. Pursuant to W.S. 2117201, as amended by this act, the governor shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the Wyoming senate, appoint members to the University of Wyoming board of trustees. The terms of an existing board member not selected through a general election shall expire when a successor, designated by the governor, is duly appointed to that existing board member's position. All existing board members' term shall expire not later than March 31, 2021.

Section 5.  This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0083

Speaking of UW, some in agriculture want an annual report on how the University is fulfilling its land grant mission.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0148



SENATE FILE NO. SF0031


University of Wyoming-land grant mission report.

Sponsored by: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to education; requiring a report from the University of Wyoming; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 2117309 is created to read:

2117309.  Land grant mission report.

On or before October 1 of each year, the University of Wyoming shall provide a report on the land grant mission of the University to the joint agriculture, public lands and water resources interim committee. The report under this section shall include all revenues to and expenditures by or for the operation of the college of agriculture during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall also include information on the faculty staffing levels at the college of agriculture including any recent or expected changes in those staffing levels, the accomplishments of the college and the benefits of the college to Wyoming's agricultural economy.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
SF0031

On land, some are trying, once again, to make trespass an offense that doesn't include intent, including interestingly enough the same legislator that otherwise has libertarian leanings.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0365



SENATE FILE NO. SF0067


Criminal trespass.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Boner, Driskill and Kost and Representative(s) Barlow, Kirkbride and Lindholm


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; amending criminal trespass elements; establishing the crime of and penalty for criminal trespass within an incorporated city or town; amending the penalty for criminal trespass; providing defenses; making conforming amendments; repealing notice provisions for criminal trespass; and providing an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 63303(a)(intro), (b) and by creating new subsections (d) through (f) and 312704(b) are amended to read:

63303.  Criminal trespass; trespass within a municipality; penalties.

(a)  Except on property for which subsection (d) of this section applies, a person is guilty of criminal trespass if he enters or remains on or in the land or premises of another person, knowing when he is not authorized does not have authorization to do so, or, after an authorized entry, remains on the land or premises after being notified to depart or to not trespass. For purposes of this section, notice is given by:

(b)  Criminal trespass is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(d)  A person is guilty of criminal trespass within an incorporated city or town if he enters the land or premises of another person that is located within the corporate boundaries of a city or town, knowing he is not authorized to do so, or, after an authorized entry, remains on the land or premises after being notified to depart or to not trespass.

(e)  Criminal trespass within an incorporated city or town is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both.

(f)  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that:

(i)  The entry was made pursuant to a valid easement, license, lease, contract or other legal right to enter;

(ii)  The entry was made because of a reasonable mistake of fact;

(iii)  The entry was made to prevent injury or to preserve life or property in an emergency;

(iv)  The land or premises was at the time open to the public and the person complied with all lawful conditions imposed for accessing and remaining on or in the land or premises; or

(v)  The person believed he was authorized to enter or remain on the land or premises based on reasonable use of a land status map or a global positioning system device.

312704.  Payment of fees; issuance of numbered decal; trespass warning printed on decal.

(b)  Numbered decals issued under this article shall contain the following language: "Warning: trespass upon private property while operating an offroad recreational vehicle is punishable by imprisonment up to six (6) months, a fine up to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both, under W.S. 63303."

Section 2.  W.S. 63303(a)(i) and (ii) is repealed.

Section 3.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
SF0067


Somebody wants to do away with license plates for front bumpers.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0457



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0105


Metal mustache freedom act.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Clem, Blake, Brown, Lindholm, Olsen and Yin and Senator(s) Driskill, Hutchings and Steinmetz


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; amending license plate display provisions; repealing the requirement to display a front license plate; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 312204(a), 312213(h)(intro) and (viii), 312215(a) and (c), 312216(a), 312217(a), 312223(c), 312230(h) and 312231(f) are amended to read:

312204.  Issuance of certificates of registration and license plates by county; form.

(a)  Upon receipt of an approved application and payment of fees the county treasurer shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration conforming with the facts set forth in the application together with one (1) license plate or validation sticker. for motorcycles, multipurpose vehicles, trailers, including house trailers, and vehicles operated with dealer license plates and two (2) license plates or proper validation stickers for any other vehicle.  A copy of the certificate of registration shall be carried at all times in the motor vehicle for which it is valid and shall be displayed upon demand of any peace officer.

312213.  Department to supply registration certificates, plates and stickers; removable windshield placards.

(h)  Effective January 1, 1993, Any person eligible for a special placard under subsection (c) of this section may apply to the county treasurer for special license plates for a motor vehicle owned by that person. Special license plates shall not be issued to any person who is eligible only for a temporary removable windshield placard under subsection (g) of this section. Special plates issued under this subsection are subject to the following:

(viii)  The county treasurer shall issue a set of plates license plate for each vehicle and a special license plate for each motorcycle registered to a qualified applicant under this subsection upon payment of required fees.

312215.  Disabled veteran's license plates.

(a)  A disabled veteran who receives fifty percent (50%) or more service connected disability compensation from the United States department of veteran's affairs and who is a resident at the time of initial application and renewal application under subsection (b) of this section, may apply for a distinctive license plates plate for a passenger car, pickup truck, motorcycle or multipurpose vehicle owned or leased by him upon registration of the vehicle.  These The license plates plate shall be displayed upon the vehicle for which they are it is issued.  A disabled veteran may purchase one (1) additional pair of license plates plate as provided in this section for either a motorcycle or a multipurpose vehicle upon payment of regular fees provided in this article. The license plates shall bear a distinctive symbol or letters identifying the registrant as a disabled veteran. The department shall prescribe the symbol or letters which shall not include arabic numerals designating the county.

(c)  The county treasurer shall only issue one (1) pair of license plates plate annually that are exempt as provided by W.S. 313101(a)(xv) to each applicant under this section.

312216.  Special plates; former prisoners of war.

(a)  The county treasurer shall issue one (1) set of special license plates plate for either a passenger car, truck or motor home owned or leased by a former prisoner of war in accordance with this section for the year 1988 and thereafter.

312217.  Special plates; Pearl Harbor survivors; national guard members; armed forces veterans; purple heart recipients.

(a)  The county treasurer shall issue one (1) set of special license plates plate to each applicant for either a passenger car, truck, motorcycle, handicapped motorcycle or motor home owned or leased by a survivor of Pearl Harbor, a member of the Wyoming army or air national guard a purple heart recipient or honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces in accordance with this section for the year 1990 and thereafter.  For the year 1993 and thereafter, The county treasurer shall issue one (1) set of special license plates plate to each applicant for either a passenger car, truck, motorcycle, handicapped motorcycle or motor home owned by a purple heart recipient.  These license plates shall be displayed upon the vehicle for which they are issued.

312223.  Antique motor vehicles.

(c)  Upon receipt of an approved application and payment of fees the vehicle shall be registered and license plates issued therefor. The registration expires upon transfer of ownership of the vehicle. Notwithstanding W.S. 312205(a)(i)(A), a The license plate shall only be required to be displayed on the rear of those antique motor vehicles. that were originally manufactured to have one (1) license plate.

312230.  Tribal license plates.

(h)  Unless five hundred (500) sets of license plates are issued under this section before December 31, 2025, the plates authorized under this section shall be eliminated from production, and the department shall report the cessation of production to the legislature not later than January 15, 2027.

312231.  Wildlife conservation license plates; wildlife conservation account.

(f)  Unless one thousand (1,000) sets of license plates are issued under this section before December 31, 2023, the plates authorized under this section shall be eliminated from production and the department shall report the cessation of production to the legislature not later than January 15, 2025.

Section 2.  W.S. 312205(a)(i)(A) is repealed. 

Section 3.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
HB0105


There's a proposal to dedicate a bridge in Casper that crosses Center Street in honor of a veteran of the Bataan Death March.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0464



HOUSE BILL NO. HB0096


Dr. Leonard L. Robinson memorial bridge.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Blake, Brown, Lindholm, MacGuire and Walters and Senator(s) Anderson, Landen, Pappas and Von Flatern


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to highways and bridges; designating a bridge as specified; providing for signage; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 241138 is created to read:

241138.  Dr. Leonard L. Robinson World War II Bataan Death March memorial bridge.

The bridge on United States Interstate Highway 25 crossing over Center Street in Casper, Wyoming shall be known as the "Dr. Leonard L. Robinson World War II Bataan Death March Memorial Bridge."  The department of transportation shall install appropriate signage, in compliance with applicable federal and state law, to identify the Dr. Leonard L. Robinson World War II Bataan Death March Memorial Bridge.

Section 2.  Nothing in this act shall require the department of transportation to remove or modify any designation of the bridge specified in section 1 of this act submitted to the federal highway administration.

Section 3.  There is appropriated five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) from the general fund to the department of transportation for purposes of installing signage required by this act.  This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2022.  This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2022.  It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the department of transportation's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Section 4.  This act is effective July 1, 2020.

(END)

1
HB0096

And somebody doesn't like free parking.

2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0413



SENATE FILE NO. SF0076


Free parking.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Coe


A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; repealing requirement for governmental entities to provide free parking; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.  W.S. 315501(d) is repealed.

Section 2.  This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
SF0076


The legislature goes into session on February 10.

February 7, 2020
_________________________________________________________________________________

While the legislature is going into session on Monday, bills are still being pulled from consideration even now, so the list provided above will have fewer bills on Monday.

One bill that is being pulled is a "Fix Nics" bill that was designed to improve the reporting of mental health matters that preclude a person from owning a firearm. There's been a lot of attention to bills of this type across the country and generally they're regarded as a conservative approach to trying to keep firearms out of the hands of the dangerously mentally impaired.  Be that as it may, the bill drew opposition from members of a local firearms group and its drafter withdrew it as it appeared likely to impact his base support in the last election.

It's somewhat ironic, I'd note, that in the House a bill such as that one, which had no intent to really deprive firearms ownership more than it already is, drew such opposition while at the same time there's a  three day waiting bill in the Senate.  That bill isn't going to go anywhere, but apparently its drafters aren't worried about the impact the bill will have on them the next time they're on the ballot.

Another bill that's drawing early opposition is the effort to tax out of state entities that already budget for income tax and work it into their prices locally. This bill had initial support in the legislature last session but it drew the opposition of national opponents and it is again.

February 8, 2020