Showing posts with label Public Land. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Land. Show all posts

Monday, April 24, 2023

Governor Gordon Calls on Public to Participate in Marton Ranch BLM Comment Period

 

Governor Gordon Calls on Public to Participate in Marton Ranch BLM Comment Period

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Today, Governor Mark Gordon called for Wyoming citizens to provide comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) preliminary environmental assessment (EA) that provides supplemental analysis to the Marton Ranch Acquisition EA. On Friday, April 21, the BLM Casper Field Office released their supplemental analysis of the Marton Ranch purchase and announced a 21-day public comment period, closing Friday, May 12, 2023.

This announcement by the BLM is a result of a settlement agreement between Wyoming and the BLM following the BLM’s purchase of the 35,670-acre Marton Ranch. The State of Wyoming appealed the BLM’s decision with the Department of Interior’s Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) in June 2022 and reached a settlement with the BLM and IBLA in October 2022. The BLM agreed to provide additional opportunities for state agencies and public comments and supplement its environmental analysis. 

“Embracing multiple use principles, which in this case includes increased public access, on public lands has many benefits to the public and Wyoming. That is why I did not oppose this project but opposed the process used. Meaningful public input and environmental analysis are critical steps in any federal land acquisition process, and this public comment period is necessary to fulfill the agreement between the BLM and the State of Wyoming,” Governor Gordon stated. “I encourage interested members of the public to take advantage of this time to be involved. I also appreciate the cooperation and communication with the Wyoming and Casper BLM offices, who have ensured our state agencies were consulted during the supplemental analysis. I look forward to the future land-use planning process and seeing what opportunities the future of this land may hold.” 

From the BLM’s announcement: Comments will be accepted in writing or through the BLM’s ePlanning website linked below. To review the preliminary EA or to submit comments, visit https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2018049/510. Hard copy comments can be mailed or hand-delivered to the BLM Casper Field Office, Attn: Mike Robinson, 2987 Prospector Dr., Casper, WY 82604. For more information, please call the Casper Field Office at (307) 261-7600.

Saturday, April 24, 1943. Departures.

Today In Wyoming's History: April 241943  John Osborne, Wyoming's governor from 1893 to 1895, died.



Osborne, a physician by trade, had been Governor from 1893 to 1895, in the wake of the Johnson County War.  He became Wyoming's Congressman in 1897, and occupied that position until 1899.  He later was an Assistant Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson.

While Governor, he eccentrically chose a state seal for the state which did not comport with the one that the legislature thought it had, and in fact it caused consternation for featuring a topless allegorical female figure, something not uncommon on seals at the time.

The New York Fire Department saved the port from blowing up after the munitions ship El Estero caught fire, by towing the vessel out some distance and pouring so much water on it that it sank.  Had it exploded, the chain reaction explosions would have been devastating.


Gen. Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord died of cancer.  The former commander of the Reichswehr and briefly a commander during World War Two was an outright undisguised opponent of Hitler's who had resigned early during Hitler's administration, but who was recalled to service upon the invasion of Poland.  He invited Hitler to his base on the Polish border with the intent of assisting him, but Hitler never took up the invitation.  He was retired a second time on September 21, 1939, and was active in the German resistance.


Admiral Kenneth Whiting, former submariner and the American "father of the aircraft carrier", died of a heart attack while suffering from pneumonia.  He was 61.

Franklin Roosevelt issued the following Executive Order:
Executive Order 9337—AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO WITHDRAW AND RESERVE LANDS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND OTHER LANDS OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE UNITED STATES
April 24, 1943
EXECUTIVE ORDER 9337

AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO WITHDRAW AND RESERVE LANDS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND OTHER LANDS OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE UNITED STATES

April 24, 1943

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the act of June 25, 1910, ch. 421, 36 Stat. 847, and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to withdraw or reserve lands of the public domain and other lands owned or controlled by the United States to the same extent that such lands might be withdrawn or reserved by the President, and also, to the same extent, to modify or revoke withdrawals or reservations of such lands: Provided, That all orders of the Secretary of the Interior issued under the authority of this order shall have the prior approval of the Director of the Bureau of the Budget and the Attorney General, as now required with respect to proposed Executive orders by Executive Order No. 7298 of February 18, 1936, and shall be submitted to the Division of the Federal Register for filing and publication: Provided, further, That no such order which affects lands under the administrative jurisdiction of any executive department or agency of the Government, other than the Department of the Interior, shall be issued by the Secretary of the Interior without the prior concurrence of the head of the department or agency concerned.

Section 2. This order supersedes Executive Order No. 9146 of April 24, 1942, entitled 'Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to Withdraw and Reserve Public Lands'.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

THE WHITE HOUSE,

April 24, 1943.

Exec. Order No. 9337, 8 FR 5516, 1943 WL 4090 (Pres.)
This mortar crew was photographed at Camp Carson, Colorado.


These troops are equipped with M1 Carbines, the first carbine issued to American troops since the M1903 Springfield, a short rifle, was first introduced.  Even the appearance of these carbines show that they are brand new.

I don't know the first combat use date for the carbine.  They were already common by the invasion of Sicily, so logic would presume that they saw action in North Africa as well.  Having said that, many artillerymen and mortar men in North Africa carried the M1917 Enfield rifle, so the carbine had not yet taken over its wide role that it later would.

Designed to equip troops other than infantrymen who might still require a firearm, the carbine would end up having enormous production, with more of them being produced than any other American small arm in World War Two.  For many years it was the most mass-produced American arm of all time, but with the long service life of the AR's, that's likely no longer true.  It saw service into the 1970s, in the M2 variant, in reserve units.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. The road ahead, again. (Vol 6).


Well, we have another edition.  It's been an interesting session.

February 12, 2023

Today we start off with an item that isn't actually legislative, but given as the GOP controls the legislature, related to it.


Now the GOP leadership has come out with a condemnation of Cynthia Lummis for her vote in the Senate on the bill which statutorily adopted the holding of Obergefell, thereby protecting same gender unions as marriages from state revocation.  Lummis, by voting the way she did, was likely demonstrating her uncanny ability to switch directions and tack with the winds in advance of their shifting, but the local GOP isn't happy about it and passed a resolution condemning her actions.

All of this somewhat demonstrates that the GOP organization remains solidly very right wing, but its influence isn't extending out as far as it likely thought it would.  The host of really populist bills in the current legislature have not done well, and the new populist firebrands have not extended much influence so far.

February 14, 2024

HB 104 allowing the taking of predatory animals at night has passed both houses but was amended by the House of Representatives to include laser sighting systems, and so is back to the Senate for concurrence.

Frankly, as a hunter, I feel that this bill is a bad technological trend.  Probably an inevitable one, but one hunters will regret.

HB131 allowing for online sports wagering, amended to require licenses and permits, passed both houses.

The Cowboy State Journal did an article on teenage marriages in the state which was somewhat interesting, with this coming up in the context of HB 7.  The article noted, and I quote:
The Busy Teen Wedding Year  

In Department of Health data spanning from 1978 to recent months, the peak year for underage marriages was 1980. There were 670 teens who married that year. Three of them were 14 years old, 30 were 15, 217 were 16 and 370 were 17.   

13 And Younger  

In only four years since 1978 have people 13 and younger received marriage licenses in Wyoming.  

Those years were 1978, when one person 13 or younger was married; 1979, when there were two; 1987 (one); and 1995 (one).   

Age 14  

There were, however, 20 years in which 14-year-olds married in Wyoming since 1978. The most recent of those was in 2012, when one 14-year-old was married. There have been 37 people married in the state at age 14 overall since 1978.   

The year with the most 14-year-olds wedded was 1979, when there were six.   

Age 15  

The most recent marriage involving a 15-year-old in Wyoming was 2015. It was the first since 2009, when four 15-year-olds were married.   

The numbers tapered off significantly starting in about 1984. Before then, between 22 and 36 people married each year at age 15.   

In 1984 there were 14 people married at 15. The numbers dropped again in 1987, with eight. They continued to dwindle with occasional jumps: to nine in 1994 and nine in 2006, though they never crested the single digits after 1986.   

Age 16  

In every year since 1978, including last year, 16-year-olds have gotten married. There were six in 2022.   

That’s a mere fraction of the figures of the late 1970s and 1980s, with 215 in 1978; 226 in 1979; 217 in 1980 and 148 in 1981.   

The numbers first dropped below 100 in 1985, at 96. They didn’t hit single digits until 2010, when there were six.   

Age 17  

Likewise, 17-year-olds get married every year in Wyoming.   

There were 374 wed in 1978 and 420 in 1980.   

But there were only 10 people that age married last year. So far this year, 2023, there have been four 17-year-olds married.   

Totals  

The totals of minors’ marriages are in the same descent as individual categories, with 627 minors married altogether in 1978 and 16 in 2022. Though the numbers fluctuated in between those two dates, the pattern of descent has been mostly consistent.   

An online journal also went after a leading figure in the GOP in the state in a really blistering fashion, accusing that person of serial infidelities and making house outside of marriage, as well as other things.  If the author is correct, and I'm going to hold off naming people as I don't know if he is or not, it would be a shocking example of outright hypocrisy, particularly in regard to the GOP's opposition to HB 7 on moral grounds.

Not that this has been unusual in recent years.  Donald Trump is hardly a moral paragon, but nonetheless he was embraced by some on the evangelical right.

February 14, 2023, cont

Governor Gordon to Sign First Bills of 2023 Legislative Session on Wednesday, February 15

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon will hold a formal bill signing ceremony on Wednesday February 15 at 3 pm in the Governor's Ceremonial Conference Room in the State Capitol Building. The ceremony is open to the public.

The Governor will sign the following bills:

Bill No.   Enrolled Act # Bill Title

SF 0023    SEA 0003         Treatment courts - transfer to judicial branch.

HB 0028   HEA 0008        Community College Capital Construction

HB 0029   HEA 0007        Community College Funding- Distance Education Credit Hours

-END-

February 15, 2023

The crossover voting bill, designed to address Republican fears that vast hordes of Democrats will cross into the GOP seconds before a primary, and which had died in a Senate Committee, was moved to a more favorable committee in a parliamentary move in hopes of keeping the remaining three Democrats from switching parties in this fashion.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who campaigned on stolen election fantasies, is in favor of the bill, as of course he would have to be.

This move, which is a little chickensh** in my view, is being reported as rare, but I can recall it happening in the last general session.

It should be noted that if Democrats crossing over was effective, Cheney would still be our Representative, which she didn't even come close to being.

It should also be noted that all the hardcore really left wing Democrats that made a big deal of their crossing over should have shut up, as they sure didn't do anything any favors by being vocal about their decision.

House Bill 147 has passed, banning improper posting of public lands in an effort to deter hunters.

ENROLLED ACT NO. 18,  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2023 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to game and fish; amending the crime of interference with lawful taking of wildlife; prohibiting acts that restrict access to or use of state or federal land as specified; providing an exception; specifying applicability; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
 
Section 1.  W.S. 23‑3‑405(a) by creating a new paragraph (iii) and (g) by creating a new paragraph (iii) is amended to read:

23‑3‑405.  Interference with lawful taking of wildlife prohibited; penalties; damages; injunction.

(a)  No person shall with the intent to prevent or hinder the lawful taking of any wildlife:

(iii)  Knowingly and without authorization post or maintain in place signs that restrict access to or use of state or federal land on which the lawful taking of or the process of lawfully taking any wildlife is permitted. For purposes of this subsection, "knowingly" means the person has received prior notice from a peace officer that the sign is located on state or federal land.

(g)  This section shall:

(iii)  Not interfere with any landowner's right to prevent trespass on the landowner's private property.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

This is a good bill, and I'm glad it passed.

This odd bill passed:

 ENROLLED ACT NO. 17, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2023 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to defense forces and affairs; authorizing veterans to present their driver's licenses or identification cards as proof of their veteran status as specified; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.  W.S. 19‑14‑113 is created to read:

19‑14‑113.  Veteran designation on driver's license.

(a)  Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, if a person has a veteran designation on their Wyoming driver's license or identification card pursuant to W.S. 31‑7‑141, any local government entity as defined by W.S. 9‑2‑3219(a)(vi) shall allow the person to present their Wyoming driver's license or identification card instead of a military form DD 214 as proof of their status as a veteran.

(b)  At the request of the military department or if information other than the person's status as a veteran is required, the military department or other local government entity may ask for further documentation including a military form DD 214.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

I'm not sure why a person would have a veteran designation on their license, but they can.  Maybe I'll add one if it'll help prevent me from getting speeding tickets or something. 

February 16, 2023 

Governor’s First Bill Signing Advances Mental Health Care in Wyoming and Bolsters Ability to Fight to Protect Coal Industry

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  Governor Mark Gordon signed the first bills of the 2023 Legislative session during a public signing ceremony at the Capitol today.

The first bill to be signed by the Governor was Senate File 0023- Treatment courts - transfer to judicial branch. The "Court Supervised Treatment Programs Act” transfers responsibility and oversight of court-supervised treatment programs from the Wyoming Department of Health to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Governor Gordon praised the legislation as an example of a collaborative effort between the Legislative, Judicial and Executive Branches, and said it offered an opportunity to strengthen the state’s drug treatment courts. At the signing, Chief Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court Kate Fox expressed her support for the legislation, saying the bill will help improve the way the judicial branch addresses mental health and substance abuse issues. 

The Governor also signed House Bill 0069 Coal-fired facility closures litigation funding-amendments. That bill provides additional flexibility for the Governor to utilize an account dedicated to funding litigation against entities that “impede Wyoming's ability to export coal, that cause the early retirement of coal-fired electric generation facilities located in Wyoming, that result in the decreased use of Wyoming coal or the closure of coal-fired electric generation facilities that use Wyoming coal.”

“Coal has a future in Wyoming. Thank you to the Legislature for helping to make a broader use of these funds, so we can be much more proactive in protecting our coal industries’ future,” Governor Gordon said. 

The Governor signed the following bills today:

Enrolled Act # Bill# Bill Title

HEA0001 HB0112 Theft-penalty for fifth or subsequent offense.

HEA0002 HB0111 Endangering children-fentanyl.

HEA0003 HB0097 Chancery court jurisdiction amendments.

HEA0004 HB0050 Solid waste cease and transfer program funding.

HEA0005 HB0045 Peace officer retirement and rehiring.

HEA0006 HB0039 Verifying the veteran designation on a WY driver's license.

HEA0007 HB0029 Community college funding-distance education credit hours.

HEA0008 HB0028 Community college capital construction.

HEA0009 HB0012 Presumptive child support amounts-updated tables.

HEA0010 HB0010 County officers-bond amounts and surety requirement.

HEA0012 HB0069 Coal-fired facility closures litigation funding-amendments.

HEA0013 HB0070 Definition of home-based educational program.

HEA0014 HB0026 School facilities-appropriations.

SEA0001 SF0002 Wyoming telecommunications act-sunset date.

SEA0002 SF0004 North American Industry Classification System amendments.

SEA0003 SF0023 Treatment courts-transfer to judicial branch.

SEA0004 SF0077 Public works apprenticeship programs-repeal.

SEA0005 SF0013 Bar and grill liquor license phaseout

SEA0006 SF0026 Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

SEA0007 SF0122 Nonresident workers-vehicle registration extension

SEA0008 SF0118 Fund balance calculations-federal encumbrances excluded

SEA0009 SF0057 State held drainage district bonds

SEA0010 SF0036 Investment funds committee-selection panel amendments

SEA0011 SF0033 Defining aircraft for purposes of hunting prohibitions

SEA0012 SF0028 Livestock infectious disease control-tribal inclusion

SEA0013 SF0017 Off-road recreational vehicles-safety and insurance

SEA0014 SF0015 Military leave for state employees

SEA0015 SF0014 Wyoming national guard professional malpractice liability

SEA0016 SF0005 Medical malpractice statutory update

SEA0017 SF0006 Insurance rebating modernization

SEA0018 SF0024 Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults

SEA0019 SF0063 Tax administration revisions

SEA0020 SF0059 State parks account-agency expenditure authority

SEA0021 SF0020 Driver's license and ID card photo quality

SEA0022 SF0018 Benefits for spouses of law enforcement members

SEJR1      SJ0007 Support for Taiwan

-END-

On the coal litigation item, the money that's dedicated to that might as well just be shoveled into the furnaces itself.  It's going nowhere, and everybody in the know is aware of that.

February 7, 2023

HB7 banning kiddie marriages passed the Senate, but in amended form, so it's back to the house for reconciliation.

The voting on the bill in the Senate was interesting.  It was as follows:

Ayes: Anderson, Barlow, Biteman, Boner, Bouchard, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Ellis, French, Furphy, Gierau, Jones, Kinskey, Kolb, Landen, Laursen, Nethercott, Pappas, Rothfuss, Schuler, Scott, President Driskill
Nays: Baldwin, Dockstader, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, McKeown, Salazar
Excused: Steinmetz

So it split the far right to at least a slight extent, with Bouchard, the only one who has personal experience in this area, voting aye.

In the House, before it was amended in the Senate, and before the GOP came out against the bill, it was as follows:

Ayes: Andrew, Berger, Brown, Burkhart, Jr, Byron, Chadwick, Chestek, Clouston, Conrad, Crago, Eklund, Harshman, Henderson, Larsen, Lloyd, Larson, JT, Lawley, Nicholas, Niemiec, Oakley, Northrup, Obermueller, O'Hearn, Olsen, Provenza, Sherwood, Stith, Storer, Trujillo, Walters, Washut, Western, Wylie, Yin, Zwonitzer, Dan, Zwonitzer, Dave, Speaker Sommers
Nays: Allemand, Allred, Angelos, Banks, Bear, Davis, Haroldson, Heiner, Hornok, Jennings, Knapp, Locke, Neiman, Ottman, Pendergraft, Penn, Rodriguez-Williams, Singh, Slagle, Smith, Strock, Styvar, Tarver, Ward, Winter

Here you can see the far right was against it, and it only passed the House by ten votes.

Essentially, we can take it from this that the far right opposes this bill for some reason, but why?

In other news, the Cowboy State Daily did a piece on Lester Hunt noting his position on Japanese internees during World War Two.  

I'd wondered if this would come up in regard to the resolution to honor him.

February 18, 2023

Senate Bill 152, the sweeping abortion ban bill, might not get assigned to a Senate Committee.  In another surprising parliamentary move, the Senate President might simply keep it in his drawer over concerns about the bill's constitutionality and views of constituents.

February 19, 2023

Governor Gordon Takes Action on 8 Bills on Saturday, February 18
 
CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  Governor Mark Gordon took action on eight bills on Saturday, February 18. The Governor signed the following bills into law today: 
Enrolled Act # Bill # Bill Title
 
HEA0015 HB0035 Day-care certification requirement amendments
HEA0016 HB0082 Defendant mental illness examinations-amendments
HEA0017 HB0160 Drivers license veterans designation replacing DD form 214
HEA0018 HB0147 Unlawful trespass signage-taking of wildlife
HEA0019 HB0019 State Indian Child Welfare Act task force
SEA0023 SF0078 Apprenticeship and job training promotion in schools
SEA0024 SF0176 Solid waste disposal districts-consolidation
SEA0025 SF0041 Skill based amusement games-authorized locations.
 
With this, posting public land to deter hunters is now illegal.

February 20, 2023

The Tribune, in its editorial from yesterday, accused the legislature of hypocrisy.  Among the bills causing that charge was the efforts to kill the underage marriage bill.

February 21, 2023

Governor Gordon to Hold Public Bill Signing Today, Tuesday, February 21
 
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon will hold a formal bill signing ceremony today, Tuesday February 21 beginning at 2 pm in the Governor's Ceremonial Conference Room in the State Capitol Building. The ceremony is open to the public.

The Governor will sign the following bills:
Enrolled Act #  Bill# Bill Title

SEA0027 SF0011 Cancer early detection amendments
HEA0020 HB0018 Missing person alert systems
HEA0022 HB0061 Source material associated with mining-agreement
HEA0026 HB0175 Excused absence-state fair events
HEA0028 HB0057 Armed forces-amendments.
HEA0031 HB0239 Vehicle idling-decriminalization.
HEA0032 HB0142 Notice of annexation.
February 22, 2023

The legislature grew testy yesterday as the sponsor of a bill on pharmaceutical regulation complained about edits being made without notice.

This is the second time in a week when there's been an open spat regarding committee edits to bills being made and a legislator feeling that something about the process was improper.

Governor Gordon Signs Bill to Help Advance Rare Earth Elements Mining in Wyoming

Also signs bill to advance Missing and Murdered Indigenous People response and vetoes first bill of the session

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill to advance Wyoming’s leadership on developing rare earth and critical minerals today. He also took action on 25 other bills on Tuesday, February 21. 

At a ceremony in the Capitol the Governor signed into law a bill  giving Wyoming primacy to permit and regulate parts of the rare earth and critical minerals industry. House Bill 0061 amends the existing Agreement State Status with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow Wyoming the permitting and regulatory authority for rare earth elements source materials. The Legislature passed this bill with unanimous support and today, the Governor signed both HB 0061 and sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The Governor also signed House Bill 0018 - Missing person alert systems. Sponsored by the Select Committee on Tribal Relations, the bill aids in the administrative establishment of a new Ashanti Alert. The alert will function similarly to an Amber alert, sending out rapid notifications to cell phones and other media regarding missing adults. Local law enforcement can request these alerts, which will be initiated statewide by the Wyoming Highway Patrol upon meeting specific alert criteria. The legislation came from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force the Governor established. 

Governor Gordon exercised his veto authority on House Bill 0106 - Eminent domain-wind energy collector systems. The Governor said that the bill’s nine-year moratorium on the use of eminent domain is likely to stall development in Wyoming. Previously the moratorium had only been in place for two years at a time. He also expressed concern that the bill would interfere with the rights of private landowners to exercise their private property and contractual rights, as well as their right to contract with whomever they choose. He noted that many ranchers and farmers in Wyoming have successfully negotiated with wind developers and are enhancing the ability of their lands to provide income for their families. While recognizing eminent domain is a delicate issue, the Governor asked the Legislature to examine the use of eminent domain authority, and then revisit the need for a moratorium in a future session and consider a shorter moratorium if it is necessary.

The Governor signed the following bills into law today: 

Enrolled Act #

Bill #

Bill Title

HEA0020 HB0018 Missing person alert systems

HEA0021 HB0020 Land exchanges-notice

HEA0022 HB0061 Source material associated with mining-agreement

HEA0023 HB0181 Online sports wagering-amendments

HEA0024 HB0013 Office of guardian ad litem-program references

HEA0025 HB0079 Voter I.D. requirements

HEA0026 HB0175 Excused absence-state fair events

HEA0027 HB0086 Disclosure of private cryptographic keys.

HEA0028 HB0057 Armed forces-amendments.

HEA0029 HB0015 County authority to dissolve museum boards-clarification.

HEA0030 HB0005 Voter registry list-voter ID and absentee ballots.

HEA0031 HB0239 Vehicle idling-decriminalization.

HEA0032 HB0142 Notice of annexation.

HEA0034 HB0041 Lightweight trailers-permanent registration.

SEA0026 SF0008 Essential subsidy payments to behavioral health centers

SEA0027 SF0011 Cancer early detection amendments

SEA0028 SF0031 Adjacent land resource data trespass-repeal

SEA0029 SF0025 District and prosecuting attorneys-bar license requirement

SEA0030 SF0068 Prescriptive easement for water conveyances.

SEA0031 SF0173 Financial institutions-similar names

SEA0032 SF0139 Unlawful use of a charge card or debit card

SEA0033 SF0069 Electronic records retention

SEA0034 SF0055 Chancery court vacancies-extension amendment

SEA0035 SF0040 Federal political action committees-reports

SEA0036 SF007 Definition of opiate antagonist-amendment.

The Governor vetoed the following bill. His veto letter is attached and linked below.

HEA0033 HB0106 Eminent domain-wind energy collector systems.

The full list of bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2023 Legislative Session can be found on the Governor's website.

-END-

The bill that got vetoed pertained to eminent domain and wind turbines. The Governor's letter stated:


February 22, cont.

Interesting news on parliamentary procedure was in evidence today.

SF 117 was subject to an attempt by Jeanette Ward to go around the Speaker of the House, who has simply kept the bill on "parental rights on education" on his desk for over 20 days.  Ward tried to move to assign it to a committee, and the Speaker torpedoed the move.

It'll likely never move off the desk, amounting to another defeat for the populist right.

SF 144, Chloe's Law, also failed in committee, which is frankly very surprising.  It's not dead, but the chances of it advancing seem quite limited now. A similar bill by Charles Scott remains active.

February 23, 2024

The Life Is A Human Right bill, HB 152, which was lingering unassigned in the Senate, has now been assigned to the Agricultural Committee where it will likely pass.  There is apparently speculation it would not pass the Health Committee.

The bill designed to allow the state to negotiate with the Tribes on hunting rights, HB 83, failed.  It largely failed as the Tribes came out against it.

February 23, cont.

Governor Gordon to Hold Public Bill Signing Today, Thursday, February 23
 
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon will hold a formal bill signing ceremony today, Thursday, February 23 beginning at 2 pm in the Governor's Ceremonial Conference Room in the State Capitol Building. The ceremony is open to the public.

The Governor will sign the following bills:

Enrolled Act #       Bill#               Bill Title
HEA0036               HB0065          988 suicide prevention.
SEA0039               SF0010            Licensed professional counselor compact.
SEA0038              SF0043            EMS districts.
HEA0044              HB0007           Underage marriage-amendments.
HEA0041              HB0127           Health care facilities and clergy.
HEA0050              HB0056           Purple star schools
HEA0048              HB0134           Alcohol sales to licensees
HEA0042              HB0044           Road and bridge construction-alternative contracting.
HEA0046              HB0279           Voter identification requirements
February 24, 2023

And the following were in fact signed into law yesterday.
Governor Gordon Takes Action on 8 Bills on Saturday, February 18
 
CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  Governor Mark Gordon took action on nine bills on Thursday, February 23. The Governor signed the following bills into law today:  
Enrolled Act # Bill # Bill Title 
HEA0036 HB0065  988 suicide prevention.
HEA0041 HB0127  Health care facilities and clergy.
HEA0042 HB0044  Road and bridge construction-alternative contracting.
HEA0044 HB0007  Underage marriage-amendments.
HEA0046 HB0279  Voter identification requirements
HEA0048 HB0134  Alcohol sales to licensees
HEA0050 HB0056  Purple star schools
SEA0038 SF0043   EMS districts.
SEA0039 SF0010   Licensed professional counselor compact.
The full list of bills the Governor has taken action on during the 2023 Legislative Session can be found on the Governor's website.
Therefore, take note would be Romeo's and Juliet's, you have to wait until you are 16 to seek to marry.

An amended Life Is A Human Right Act passed out of Senate Committee, but stripped of the provisions that tied it to a Wyoming Supreme Court decision, and adding rape and incest exceptions.

Anthony Bouchard has called on the Wyoming GOP to censure the Speaker of the House for putting Chloe's Law in his bottom drawer.  If the bill doesn't make it out by Monday, it will fall due to a legislative deadline for bills passing one chamber to make it out of committee in the next.

Part of the problem here is that the bill was amended significantly in the House and then came back with a "do not pass" from committee, which means that its chances are poor otherwise.   Bills that suffer that fate are automatically put in the bottom drawer, although the speaker feels that it is likely to come out before the deadline.

The Speaker indicates he flat out won't let SF117, the Parental Rights In Education Act, out on the floor, in part because he feels it intrudes on local control by school boards.

Sommers  has also put Senate File 86, allowing Wyomingites to use their concealed carry permits as voter identification in the drawer, but due to  House Bill 79 which was a mirror already being passed into law. He put Senate File 143 also is stuck in Sommers’ drawer, establishing a scholarship fund to send some Wyoming students to private schools instead of public, as a nearly identical bill has already failed.

February 25, 2023

HB 103, the Cross Over Voting bill designed to prevent an imaginary problem of imaginary Democrats crossing over to spoil primary elections, has passed the Legislature.  It's unknown if the Governor will sign it.

HB 104, allowing use of infrared scopes to hunt predators at night was signed into law.  I frankly don't think this was a good idea.

The bill also cleared up some questions about predator hunteres being able to hunt on state lands.

Governor Gordon Signs Supplemental Budget with Historic Savings to Keep Taxes Low For Future Generations

**Corrected with updated budget letter**

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon signed a supplemental budget that places more than $1 billion in savings, allowing the state to keep taxes low and generate higher investment returns that will benefit future generations. Today, the Governor also took action on 16 other bills.

“I congratulate the Legislature for its work on my budget recommendations,” Governor Gordon said. “It is gratifying that the budget submitted to me is closely aligned with my original recommendations. Where we disagreed, or where they overstepped the separation of powers embedded in our Constitution, I exercised my veto authority. The fiscal condition of the State remains strong.”

The Governor thanked the Legislature for delivering a budget that reflects the approach he outlined in his supplemental budget proposal – one that sets aside funds for leaner times ahead and addresses the inflationary pressures facing Wyoming citizens and the concerns of the state’s most vulnerable and those living on fixed incomes. Most notably, this budget provides for more property tax relief for citizens. 

Governor Gordon noted that for every dollar of state revenue spent in the supplemental budget, it saves roughly $3.50. In addition to savings, the Supplemental Budget makes strategic investments in Wyoming. These include additional funding for the Property Tax Refund Program, support for the state’s energy industries and a market adjustment for state employees and teachers to offset the impacts of inflation. 

The Governor used his authority to issue several line-item vetoes, including items that are overly prescriptive and those that present separation of powers concerns. The Governor’s budget letter explaining his line-item vetoes is attached and may be found here.

Governor Gordon also exercised his veto authority on Senate File 0071- State loan and bond programs. In his letter, the Governor pointed out that the bill reduces the amount of funding available to the State Loan and Investment Board for farm loans, shrinking the safety net available to the agriculture industry. The Governor also expressed concern that the changes the legislation makes to the interest rates for farm loans put the State in competition with private financial institutions.

The Governor signed the following bills into law: 

Enrolled Act Bill # Bill Title

HEA0035 HB0021 State lands-use of land qualification requirements.

HEA0038 HB0031 BOCES as local education agencies.

HEA0039 HB0174 Homestead exemption-amendments.

HEA0040 HB0027 School facilities-consolidated remediation schedule.

HEA0043 HB0165 Living organ donor protection.

HEA0045 HB0096 Transfer on death deed-insurance coverage.

HEA0047 HB0148 Airport liquor licenses-amendment

HEA0049 HB0062 Open banking

HEA0051 HB0042 Off-road recreational vehicle operation

HEA0052 HB0104 Hunting of predatory animals-amendments

SEA0040 SF0037 Podiatry medical services-Medicaid.

SEA0041 SF0029 Brucellosis management updates.

SEA0042 SF0095 Moon landing day.

SEA0043 SF0065 Compensation of local registrars-repeal.

SEA0044 SF0058 Sutton archaeological site administration.

The Governor exercised his line-item veto authority on the following bill. The Governor's letter is attached:

HEA  0037 HB001 General government appropriations.

The Governor vetoed the following bill. The Governor’s letter is attached and linked:

SEA0037 SF0071 State loan and bond programs..

-END-

Last prior edition:

Monday, January 9, 2023

The 2023 Wyoming Legislative Session. The Waking Up Edition (Vol 1).

June 18, 2022

Oh no . . . isn't this a bit early?


Why yes, but we already have bills circulating, including Wyoming Stablecoin, again.

Wyoming Stablecoin would be a Wyoming issued, bond backed, bit currency.  It passed last year, under the wire, and then the Governor vetoed it.  Apparently the State Treasurer was a bit relieved at that.

Legislators are trying again.

August 23, 2022

The Corporations Committee is again considering a ranked choice voting bill.

August 26, 2022

The Corporations Committee approved a motion to draft a bill to strip the Secretary of State of his sole authority over elections, undoubtedly a vote of no confidence on the incoming occupant of that office, Chuck Gray.

From a Newsweek reporter:

Nick Reynolds
@IAmNickReynolds
After a candidate who has denied the results of the 2020 election won his Secretary of State primary in Wyoming, it looks like the Joint Corporations Committee has just approved a motion to draft legislation stripping the office's sole authority to oversee the state's elections.

The bill, when drafted, will have to get past the committee, and into the full legislature, where I'd guess that it's unlikely to be passed.

Legislator Charlie Scott, a long time presence in the legislature, voted against the measure and reminded fellow committee members of the prior effort to restrain the powers of Cindy Hill, the controversial Superintendent of Public Instruction.  That ultimately ended up in a court battle which the State lost, which in some ways might be regarded as a bit of a prequel to where the state's politics are now at.

August 27, 2022

Two ranked choice bills are being considered in the Corporation's Committee.  One would make primaries ranked choice with no party affiliation.  The other would allow for municipalities to adopt the system.

The elimination of parties from primaries would be a big step forward in my opinion. As Cale Case noted, this should end the complaints about Democrats switching to the Republicans in order to have a chance to vote in the election that's come to be the final determinant more often than not in who will hold office. And it would restore a measure of democracy to the state's elections that has been declining by advancing the top primary picks to the general irrespective of party.

August 31, 2022

The complaint filed against Anthony Bouchard by a lobbyist will be determined before the commencement of the next legislative session.

September 13, 2022

The legislature will not consider a bill to make illegal drug use while pregnant a felony.

It should be noted, of course, that for the most part illegal drug use is already a felony.

This gets to a bill mentioned within the last couple of days that would make vehicular homicide resulting in the death of a pedestrian a felony, according to how it was reported. But vehicular homicide is also already a felony.

Both bills go towards the modern trend of making something already illegal, illegal again in a special way, often with a different penalty. 

October 18, 2022

A legislative committee tabled an open primary and ranked choice voting system bill, all but killing it in light of the fact that the incoming legislature will be more right wing and populist than the current one.

In enacted, Wyoming would have effectively no longer bothered with internal party races, but simply have had primaries that eliminated the least popular candidates so that the two most popular ones could have gone on to the general election.  If that had been the case this year, for example, chances are high that we'd still have two candidates competing for Secretary of State.

A bill for ranked choice voting for local races proceeded.

Score one for the forces opposed to wider democracy and liberation from the two party system.

October 19, 2022

A bill in the legislature would remove political parties from the process if an elected incumbent in state office leaves office.  This is targeted at avoiding future embarrassing appointments to said offices, such as the state received in the case of the recent Interim Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Instruction.

If over half the term remains, a special election would be held.  In the cases in which less than half remains, depending upon the office, the Governor or the County Commissioners will pick the successor.  The successor would still have to be a member of the political party that the vacating individual ones.

This is definitely an improvement, but more and more the role of political parties in general in this process is questionable.  Americans are so used to them that they think of the "two party system" as thought it's written into our organic documents, which it is not.\

Idaho Outtake: A bill to ban drag performances in public venues will be introduced in Idaho's legislature next session. 

November 15, 2022

The Republican Party Central Committee has issued a series of resolutions directing the legislature to take action as follows:

a.  Take the Federal lands away from the Federal government, which is effectively a declaration of war against Wyoming's citizens, which hate this concept.

b.  Preclude party switching 30 days before the election.

c. "Take actions" against the Federal recommendation that the COVID 19 vaccine be given to children.

d.  Investigate the roles of George Soros and Bill Gates in Wyoming's energy industry.

e.  Something about trans in schools, but I didn't follow it.  Part of that may have been to require participants in high school sports to participate in the category of their gender at birth.

Some of these resolutions are socially conservative, some are just extreme, others are flat out nuts.

November 20, 2022

Wyoming Republicans beat back a challenge from the populist far right on Speaker of the House, choosing Albert Sommers as the next Speaker over Mark Jennings.   Clark Stith was chosen Speaker Pro Tempore over a populist challenger.

Cyrus Western was chosen as Majority Whip.  Ogden Driskill was chosen as President of the Senate.  All in all, therefore, Wyoming Republicans won over Populists.

December 3, 2022

A bill has advanced to allow legislators and their families to enroll in the state's health insurance system.

A bill that provides that a Game Warden can always cite somebody for trespassing has advanced.

December 7, 2022

A bill to bad gender reassignment medical procedures is being drafted.

All the data on this shows at a bare minimum that a high percentage of those undergoing such medical treatment regret it with often disastrous results.  Little noticed, to add to it, the process of medically delaying puberty in order to aid in this process likewise is disastrous.  The extent to which "transgenderism" isn't really even scientifically supported is little noted.  Nonetheless, the societal trend right now is such that the headline in this referred to this area as "gender care", when in the future such treatment is likely to be regarded the way lobotomies on minors are regarded now.  The article I read used the phrase "gender affirming" care repeatedly, which in reality in completely contrary to what such procedures are aimed at.

December 8, 2022

Some bills that have made it to the assembly line.  I'm not going to post all of them, as they aren't all that interesting. But here's a couple that are a bit interesting.

In the first one, the legislature takes on young love, or something.

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0297

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0007

 

 

Underage marriage-amendments.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Zwonitzer, Dn and Oakley and Senator(s) Case and Furphy

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to domestic relations; amending the minimum marriageable age; specifying that marriages involving persons under age sixteen (16) are void; 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. 201102, 201103(c)(iii), 201105(b) and 202101(a) by creating a new paragraph (iv) and (b) are amended to read:

 

201102.  Minimum marriageable age; exception; parental consent.

 

(a)  At the time of marriage the parties shall be at least sixteen (16) eighteen (18) years of age except as otherwise provided. No person shall marry who is under the age of sixteen (16) years.

 

(b)  All marriages involving a person under sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age are prohibited and voidable, unless 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. All marriages involving a person under sixteen (16) years of age are void.

 

(c)  When either party is a minor sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age, no license shall be granted without the verbal consent, if present, and written consent, if absent, of the father, mother, guardian or person having the care and control of the minor person sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age. Written consent shall be proved by the testimony of at least one (1) competent witness.

 

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 sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age and the consent of a parent or guardian has not been given.

 

201105.  Judge may order license issued.

 

(b)  If either party is under sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age, the parents or guardians may apply to any judge of a court of record in the county of residence of the minor person sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age for an order authorizing the marriage and directing the issuance of a marriage license. If the judge believes it advisable, he shall enter an order authorizing the marriage and directing the county clerk to issue a license. Upon filing of a certified copy of the order with the county clerk, the county clerk shall issue a license and endorse thereon the fact of the issuance of the order. No person authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in Wyoming shall perform any marriage ceremony if either party is under the age specified by this subsection unless the license contains the endorsement of sixteen (16) years.

 

202101.  Void and voidable marriages defined; annulments.

 

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

 

(iv)  When either party is under sixteen (16) years of age at the time of contracting the marriage.

 

(b)  A marriage is voidable if solemnized when either party was under the age of legal consent sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age 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.  This act shall apply to all marriages entered into on and after July 1, 2023.

 

Section 3.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

What this bill does is wipe out the chance that really young marriages occur, which is likely a good thing.  As a practical matter, it would have been pretty much impossible to secure permission from the courts for a really young marriage, but changing the law is worthwhile.

The second takes on drones over property.

SENATE FILE NO. SF0034

 

 

Trespass by small unmanned aircraft.

 

Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating the crime of trespass by small unmanned aircraft; providing a penalty; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 63308 is created to read:

 

63308.  Trespass by small unmanned aircraft.

 

(a)  A person is guilty of trespass by small unmanned aircraft if the person causes a small unmanned aircraft to enter into the immediate reaches of the airspace over the private property of a landowner and the entry substantially interferes with the landowner's or his authorized occupant's use and enjoyment of the land. For purposes of this section "aircraft", "unmanned aircraft" and "small unmanned aircraft" means as defined in 14 C.F.R. 1.1 as of September 13, 2022.

 

(b)  Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), by imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or both.

 

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)

No flying those drones to the annoyance of others, in other words.

December 10, 2022



 

 

SENATE FILE NO. SF0032

 

 

Prohibiting drones over penal institutions.

 

Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; prohibiting the use of unmanned aircraft systems as specified; authorizing the department of corrections to take reasonable actions against unmanned aircraft systems trespassing over or in penal institutions; providing definitions; providing penalties; providing exceptions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 65214 is created to read:  

 

65214.  Unmanned aircraft systems and correctional institutions; definitions; penalties.

 

(a)  As used in this section:

 

(i)  "Contraband" means as defined in W.S. 65213(c)(i);

 

(ii)  "Penal institution or correctional facility" means as defined in W.S. 65213(c)(ii);

 

(iii)  "Unmanned aircraft system":

 

(A)  Means an unmanned, powered aircraft that:

 

(I)  Does not carry a human operator;

 

(II)  Can be autonomous or remotely piloted or operated; and

 

(III)  Can be expendable or recoverable.

 

(B)  Does not include:

 

(I)  A satellite orbiting the earth;

 

(II)  An unmanned aircraft system used by the United States Government or a person who is acting pursuant to a contract with the United States Government;

 

(III)  An unmanned aircraft system used by the state for purposes of state business;

 

(IV)  An unmanned aircraft system used by a law enforcement agency, emergency medical service agency, hazardous materials response team, disaster management agency, or other emergency management agency for the purpose of incident command, area reconnaissance, personnel and equipment deployment monitoring, training, or a related purpose.

 

(b)  Except as authorized by a person in charge of the penal institution or correctional facility, no person shall intentionally:

 

(i)  Photograph, surveil, broadcast or otherwise record a penal institution or correctional facility through the use of an unmanned aircraft system;

 

(ii)  Convey or attempt to convey contraband to a person confined in a penal institution or correctional facility through the use of an unmanned aircraft system; or

 

(iii)  Deliver or attempt to deliver a deadly weapon into a penal institution or correctional facility through the use of an unmanned aircraft system.

 

(c)  Any person who violates paragraphs (b)(i) or (ii) of this section is guilty of misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), or both. Any person who violates paragraph (b)(iii) of this section is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both.

 

(d)  A person who uses an unmanned aircraft system under one (1) or more of the exclusions specified in subdivisions (a)(iii)(B)(II) through (IV) of this section shall provide reasonable notice of the intended use of the unmanned aircraft system at the penal institution or correctional facility to the person in charge of the institution or facility.

 

(e)  The person in charge of a penal institution or correctional facility may take or authorize the use of reasonable actions to prevent or stop the use of unmanned aircraft systems operating in violation of this section consistent with rules and regulations promulgated by the department of corrections pursuant to W.S. 251105(h).

 

Section 2.  W.S. 251105 by creating a new subsection (h) is amended to read:

 

251105.  Powers of department; care of persons committed outside of state.

 

(h)  The department of corrections shall promulgate rules specifying reasonable actions a person in charge of a penal institution or correctional facility may take to stop or prevent a violation of W.S. 65214(b).

 

Section 3.  The department of corrections shall promulgate any rules necessary to implement this act.

 

Section 4.  

 

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(b)  Sections 3 and 4 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.

 

(END)




SENATE FILE NO. SF0033

 

 

Defining aircraft for purposes of hunting prohibitions.

 

Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to game and fish; providing a definition of "aircraft" for purposes of the prohibition on the use of aircraft for hunting and other purposes as specified; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 233306(a) is amended to read:

 

233306.  Use of aircraft, automobiles, motorized and snow vehicles and artificial light for hunting or fishing prohibited; exceptions; penalties.

 

(a)  No person shall harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, or kill any Wyoming wildlife except predatory animals with, from, or by use of any aircraft, automotive vehicle, trailer, motorpropelled wheeled vehicle, or vehicle designed for travel over snow. No person shall use any aircraft, to aid in the taking of any Wyoming wildlife, except predatory animals, whether by spotting or locating the wildlife, communicating with any person attempting to take the wildlife, or by providing other aid to any person taking the wildlife. Nothing in this subsection shall apply to the use of any aircraft by governmental agencies, their employees, contractors or designees performing any lawful duties. The commission may exempt handicapped hunters from any provision of this subsection. For purposes of this section "aircraft" means any machine or device capable of atmospheric flight including but not limited to an airplane, helicopter, glider, dirigible or unmanned aerial vehicle.

 

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)


December 19, 2022:

Stogie economics:

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0062

 

 

 

SENATE FILE NO. SF0042

 

 

Taxation of cigars.

 

Sponsored by: Joint Revenue Interim Committee

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to tobacco taxes; specifying a maximum tax on cigars; providing that the tax on a premium cigar is due following the sale of the cigar; providing a definition; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 3918101(a) by creating a new paragraph (xii), 3918104(c) and (d) and 3918107(a)(i), (ii), (b)(i), (ii) and (c)(i)(intro) are amended to read:

 

3918101.  Definitions.

 

(a)  As used in this article:

 

(xii)  "Premium cigar" means a cigar that:

 

(A)  Is wrapped in whole tobacco leaf;

 

(B)  Is handmade or hand rolled; and

 

(C)  Has no filter, nontobacco tip or nontobacco mouthpiece.

 

3918104.  Taxation rate.

 

(c)  In addition to the other taxes imposed by this section, there is levied and assessed upon cigars, snuff and other tobacco products purchased or imported into this state by wholesalers for resale, except cigarettes and moist snuff taxed under this section, an excise tax at the rate of twenty percent (20%) of the wholesale purchase price at which the tobacco products are purchased by wholesalers from manufacturers. The tax rate under this subsection shall not exceed thirty cents ($0.30) per premium cigar.

 

(d)  The tax imposed by subsection (c) of this section shall also be imposed upon the use or storage by consumers of cigars, snuff and other tobacco products other than cigarettes and moist snuff in this state, and upon those consumers, at the rate of ten percent (10%) of the retail price of the cigar, snuff or other tobacco product other than cigarettes and moist snuff.  This tax shall not apply if the tax imposed by subsection (c) of this section has been paid. The tax rate under this subsection shall not exceed thirty cents ($0.30) per premium cigar.

 

3918107.  Compliance; collection procedures.

 

(a)  Returns and reports.  The following shall apply:

 

(i)  Each wholesaler shall keep complete and accurate records of all nicotine products purchased and sold for three (3) years. The records shall be in the form prescribed by the department and will be available for inspection by the department at any reasonable time. The department may investigate and examine the stock of cigarettes and premium cigars upon any premises where they are stored or sold;

 

(ii)  On or before the tenth day of each calendar quarter, every consumer who, during the preceding calendar quarter, has acquired title to or possession of nicotine products for use or storage in this state, upon which products the tax imposed by W.S. 3918103(a)(iii) and (v) has not been paid, shall file a return with the department showing the quantity of such products so acquired. The return shall be made upon a form furnished and prescribed by the department and shall contain such other information as the department may require. The return shall be accompanied by a remittance for the full unpaid tax liability shown by it, provided that the tax on premium cigars shall be due upon the sale of the premium cigars as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

 

(b)  Payment.  The following shall apply:

 

(i)  There is levied and shall be collected and paid to the department an excise tax at the rate imposed by W.S. 3918104(a) and (c) upon the sale of each cigarette and premium cigar sold by wholesalers;

 

(ii)  There is levied and shall be paid to the department an excise tax at the rate imposed by W.S. 3918104(b) and (d) upon the use or storage by consumers of cigarettes and premium cigars in Wyoming but only if the tax imposed by paragraph (i) of this subsection has not been paid;

 

(c)  Timelines.  The following shall apply:

 

(i)  No later than the twentieth day of the month following the sale of cigarettes and premium cigars, or the month following the end of the calendar quarter for nicotine products other than cigarettes and premium cigars, each wholesaler shall return to the department the following information on forms furnished by the department:

 

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)

Postponing the bench:

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0384

 

 

 

SENATE FILE NO. SF0055

 

 

Chancery court vacancies-extension amendment.

 

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Nethercott, Landen and Schuler and Representative(s) Oakley, Olsen, Stith and Washut

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to courts; amending requirements for filling chancery court vacancies; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 513109(b) is amended to read:

 

513109.  Temporary assignment to fill vacancies; appointments to fill vacancies in office.

 

(b)  Beginning January 1, 2024 2025, the office of judge of the chancery court and any vacancies therein shall be filled as provided by W.S. 513107.

 

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)

Staying airborne?

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0108

 

 

 

SENATE FILE NO. SF0056

 

 

Prohibiting travel across private land for hunting purposes.

 

Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to game and fish; expanding the prohibition for entering private property without permission for hunting purposes to also prohibit traveling through the private property; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 233305(b) is amended to read:

 

233305.  Hunting from highway; entering or traveling through private property without permission; penalty; hunting at night without permission prohibited.

 

(b)  No person shall enter upon, travel through or return across the private property of any person to take wildlife, hunt, fish, collect antlers or horns, or trap without the permission of the owner or person in charge of the property. Violation of this subsection constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 236202(a)(v). For purposes of this subsection "travel through or return across" requires physically touching or driving on the surface of the private property.

 

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)

December 30, 2022

An important bill has been introduced in the House which would mix the order in which names appear on ballots.

023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0148

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0055

 

 

Election ballot order and party affiliation.

 

Sponsored by: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Interim Committee

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to elections; amending the process to determine the position of candidates on the general election ballot; allowing independent candidates to list a party affiliation; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 226120(a)(vii) and 226121(a)(intro) are amended to read:

 

226120.  Format of general election ballot.

 

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

 

(vii)  The names of partisan party candidates, if candidates have filed, and independent candidates, if candidates have filed, shall be printed in a separate column or columns, row or rows, and the name of the party represented or the word "Independent" shall be printed directly above the candidate's name or at the end of the row. If there are a number of candidates representing a party, or independents, the county clerk at his discretion may designate a separate vertical column or columns, or row or rows to said candidates and print the name of said party or An independent candidate may choose to list their party affiliation on the ballot after the word "Independent"; at the top of the column or beginning of the row;

 

226121.  Order of candidates' names.

 

(a)  Political party position shall be determined on the general election ballot according to the number of votes received by each party within the county for the office of representative in congress at the last preceding general election.  The party receiving the highest number of votes shall appear first following the names of the offices to be voted for and other parties shall follow in the order of their respective numbers of such votes.  The order of any provisional parties will be drawn by the secretary of state.  Any independent For the general election ballot, the names of candidates shall appear following the last party and shall be listed in alphabetical order, subject to rotation.  When more than one (1) candidate is to be elected to a particular office, the names of candidates shall be printed in alphabetical order, subject to rotation, on all ballots for electronic and machine voting systems as defined by W.S. 221102 rotated as set forth in W.S. 226122.

 

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)

January 4, 2023

In a blistering act of hypocrisy, Jeanette Ward, who left "fascist" Illinois as school districts were telling students to wear masks, as they should have, would now have the State of Wyoming tell private businesses that they couldn't require them.

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0417

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0066

 

 

Prohibiting mask, vaccine and testing discrimination.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Ward, Allemand, Angelos, Banks, Haroldson, Hornok, Knapp, Locke, Ottman, Penn, Rodriguez-Williams, Slagle, Smith, Strock, Styvar and Winter and Senator(s) Hutchings and Salazar

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to public health and safety; prohibiting discrimination and publishing or advertising based on a person's vaccination, face covering or medical testing status as specified; providing a criminal penalty; providing definitions; making conforming amendments; repealing immunization requirements; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 354140 is created to read:

 

354140.  Discrimination based on facial coverings, vaccination status and medical testing; penalties.

 

(a)  As used in this section:

 

(i)  "COVID19" means as defined by W.S. 11141(a)(ii);

 

(ii)  "Facial covering" means a mask or protective covering for the mouth and nose, typically worn to reduce the spread of an infectious virus or disease;

 

(iii)  "Medical testing" means testing performed to detect, diagnose or monitor an infectious virus or disease including, but not limited to, molecular testing, temperature checks, nasal swabbing, nasopharyngeal swabbing, oropharyngeal swabbing, saliva testing, antigen testing, antibody testing, urinalysis and blood testing;

 

(iv)  "Vaccination" means the act of administering a vaccine;

 

(v)  "Vaccine" means any substance including live, weakened or dead viruses designed to be administered to a person to produce immunity and prevent infectious viruses and diseases.

 

(b)  No person shall:

 

(i)  Refuse, withhold from or deny to a person any services, goods, facilities, advantages or privileges that are public in nature or that invite the patronage of the public based on a person's COVID19 or any other infectious virus or disease vaccination status, whether a person is not wearing a face covering or whether a person refuses to submit to medical testing;

 

(ii)  Publish, display or mail, either directly or indirectly, any communication, notice or advertisement that states that a person is required to wear a face covering, is required to have a COVID19 or any other infectious virus or disease vaccination or is required to submit to medical testing as a condition for receiving or accessing services, goods, facilities, advantages and privileges that are public in nature or that invite the patronage of the public.

 

(c)  Any person that violates subsection (b) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment for not to exceed one (1) year, or both.

 

Section 2.  W.S. 144116, 214309 and 2124104(c) are repealed.

 

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)

So much for "less government, more freedom", and so much for private property rights.  This bill tells private property owners open to the public exactly what they can do, and even what they can say.

And so much for the legislative oath to uphold the Constitution.  This bill is also rampagingly unconstitutional.

The late Gene Shepherd once observed that, in the end, all fanatics meet in their fanaticism, and it's very true.  Here the private property, individual worshiping right, circles around to become the very thing they claim they despise.  Big government telling individuals and private property owners what to do, say, and more or less, think.

January 5, 2023

The Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a caucus of far right legislators, formally announced their existence yesterday.  The group may be regarded as the Trumpite populist wing of the party, which in the legislature is nearly a party unto itself.

January 5, 2023, cont:

More prefiled bills are rolling in, as the convening of the legislative session grows closer.  

A few more of interest:

A landowner's bill seeking to make it easier to charge somebody with criminal trespass:

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0382

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0075

 

 

Painted fence posts-no trespassing.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Banks, Allemand, Crago and Slagle and Senator(s) Driskill and Schuler

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; specifying how property may be designated to prevent trespass by use of fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink paint; requiring the game and fish commission and the department of state parks and cultural resources to inform permittees concerning trespassing and rights-of-way through private land; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 63303(a)(intro), (i) and by creating a new paragraph (iii), 231302(a) by creating a new paragraph (xxxiii) and 364121 by creating a new subsection (u) are amended to read:

 

63303.  Criminal trespass; penalties.

 

(a)  A person is guilty of criminal trespass if he enters or remains on or in the land or premises of another person, knowing he is not authorized to do so, or after being notified to depart or to not trespass. For purposes of this section, notice is given by any one (1) of the following:

 

(i)  Personal communication to the person by the owner or occupant, or his agent, or by a peace officer; or

 

(iii)  Marking of a post or structure with not less than fifty (50) square inches of fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink paint at each outer gate and normal point of access to the property, including both sides of a body of water crossing the property wherever the body of water intersects an outer boundary line and at regular intervals of not less than onefourth (1/4) mile along property bordering a public road, except that:

 

(A)  When metal fenceposts are used, the entire post above ground shall be marked with fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink paint;

 

(B)  No fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink markings shall be used on posts or structures where a public roadway enters the property.

 

231302.  Powers and duties.

 

(a)  The commission is directed and empowered:

 

(xxxiii)  To educate and inform all persons holding hunting, fishing or trapping licenses or permits by including on any publication concerning the licenses or permits, in condensed form, the provisions under W.S. 63303 and 233305(b) concerning trespassing. The commission shall use public media, as well as its own publications, in educating and informing other recreational users of the provisions of W.S. 63303 and 233305(b) concerning trespassing. In the interests of providing the public with clear information regarding the public nature of unfenced rightsofway through private land, the commission may develop and distribute to landowners, together with the department of state parks and cultural resources, signs for posting where a public roadway enters private land that give notice not to trespass off the public roadway.

 

364121.  Permits to use state parks, recreation areas and historic sites.

 

(u)  The department shall educate and inform all persons holding permits to use state parks, recreation areas and historic sites by including on any publication concerning the permits, in condensed form, the provisions under W.S. 63303 concerning trespassing. The department shall use public media, as well as its own publications, in educating and informing recreational users of the provisions of W.S. 63303 concerning trespassing. In the interests of providing the public with clear information regarding the public nature of unfenced rightsofway through private land, the department may develop and distribute to landowners, together with the game and fish commission, signs for posting where a public roadway enters private land that give notice not to trespass off the public roadway.

 

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)

This sort of thing is part of the same "less government, more freedom" charade that the far right has posted.  This makes for more government and less freedom, and ought to fail.

Another bill proposes to make concealed carry permits legal ID for voting purposes, which I guess is fine.

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0340

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0079

 

 

Voter I.D.-concealed carry permit.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Crago, Olsen and Washut and Senator(s) Barlow and Kinskey

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to elections; providing that a concealed carry permit is acceptable identification for purposes of in-person voter identification requirements; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 221102(a)(xxxix)(B) by creating a new subdivision (X) is amended to read:

 

221102.  Definitions.

 

(a)  The definitions contained in this chapter apply to words and phrases used in this Election Code and govern the construction of those words and phrases unless they are specifically modified by the context in which they appear. As used in this Election Code:

 

(xxxix)  "Acceptable identification" means:

 

(B)  For purposes of in person voter identification immediately before voting at a polling place or absentee polling place, any of the following:

 

(X)  A valid permit to carry a concealed firearm issued pursuant to W.S. 68104.

 

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)

A bill to address the dog's breakfast caused by the Herrera case, which still is otherwise working its way through the courts, has been introduced. This would allow the state to negotiate with the tribes so that both parties can avoid whatever scary results may be coming.

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0343

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0083

 

 

Tribal agreements to hunt and fish.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Larsen, L, Crago, Neiman, Newsome, Oakley and Sommers and Senator(s) Barlow, Case, Dockstader, Driskill and Ellis

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to  game and fish; authorizing the governor to negotiate and enter into agreements with tribes concerning hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering rights claims as specified; providing for a report; providing rulemaking authority; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 2311101 is created to read:

 

ARTICLE 11

AGREEMENTS WITH TRIBES

 

2311101.  Authorization to negotiate and enter into agreements with tribes concerning hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering.

 

(a)  The governor, on behalf of the state, is authorized to negotiate and enter into an agreement between the state and a tribe concerning a hunting, fishing, trapping or gathering right claim that is based on a treaty or other recognized federal right on lands located within the state.

 

(b)  Any agreement executed under this section shall be in writing and signed by the governor and the governing body of the tribe.

 

(c)  The governor shall not enter into any agreement with a tribe under this section, unless:

 

(i)  The agreement provides that the governor shall renegotiate the agreement if the agreement is or becomes inconsistent with any state statutes;

 

(ii)  The tribe has adopted a game code or other similar enforceable regulatory mechanism that provides for the issuance of tribal hunting, fishing and trapping licenses and adopts or incorporates the substantive requirements and prohibitions contained in W.S. 233101 through 233407;

 

(iii)  The governor finds that the tribe has the ability to effectively enforce the provisions of its game code against violators;

 

(iv)  The tribe agrees that tribal members who do not possess a valid license shall be subject to regulation under applicable state laws for acts committed outside the boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation;

 

(v)  The tribe agrees that tribal members who possess a valid tribal license but otherwise violate the tribal game code outside the boundaries of the Wind River Indian Reservation are subject to appropriate enforcement by tribal or state authorities;

 

(vi)  The tribe agrees to:

 

(A)  Align its hunting, fishing and trapping seasons with the hunting, fishing and trapping seasons set by the Wyoming game and fish commission, except for limited exceptions for ceremonial, traditional or religious purposes;

 

(B)  Abide by any hunting, fishing or trapping area closures set by the commission;

 

(C)  Collect and share harvest data with the commission;

 

(D)  Set appropriate quotas, daily limits and possession limits that do not conflict with quotas, daily limits and possession limits set by the commission and that further both parties' interests in conservation.

 

(vii)  The agreement provides that tribal hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering shall be subject to the state's right to regulate when necessary for conservation.

 

(d)  Nothing in this section or any agreement entered into under this section shall grant any person the right to hunt, fish, trap or gather on private property without the permission of the owner or person in charge of the property.

 

(e)  As used in this section:

 

(i)  "Gathering" means the sustainable, noncommercial collection by hand of naturally occurring vegetation or nonmineral surface materials for personal, ceremonial, traditional or religious use. Gathering shall not mean the harvest of fish or wildlife;

 

(ii)  "Tribe" means as provided in W.S. 205202(a)(xvi).

 

Section 2.  The governor's office shall report to the joint travel, recreation and wildlife interim committee within ten (10) days of completion of an agreement with a tribal authority pursuant to this act. 

 

Section 3.  To the greatest extent authorized under state and federal law, the Wyoming game and fish commission and the Wyoming board of land commissioners may promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to implement an agreement entered into pursuant to this act.

 

Section 4.  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)

Liberty Caucus, Illinoisan Jeanette Ward has introduced a bill regarding the school library situation.  I generally hate to agree with Ward on anything, but I'd vote for this one.

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0444

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0087

 

 

Crimes of obscenity-revisions.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Ward, Allemand, Angelos, Haroldson, Hornok, Locke, Ottman, Pendergraft, Penn, Slagle and Strock and Senator(s) Hutchings, Ide and Steinmetz

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; amending the definition of child pornography for the offense of sexual exploitation of children to include cartoons and other depictions; repealing an exemption from promoting obscenity for activities conducted in the course of employment at a school, college, university, museum or public library; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 64303(a)(ii)(intro) is amended to read:

 

64303.  Sexual exploitation of children; penalties; definitions.

 

(a)  As used in this section:

 

(ii)  "Child pornography" means any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, cartoon, drawing, computer or computergenerated image or picture, whether or not made or produced by electronic, mechanical or other means, or any other form of depiction of explicit sexual conduct, where:

 

Section 2.  W.S. 64302(c)(ii) is repealed.

 

Section 3.  This act is effective July 1, 2023.

 

(END)

A bill regarding foreign ownership of agricultural land has been introduced.

2023

STATE OF WYOMING

23LSO-0521

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0088

 

 

Foreign ownership of agricultural land-prohibited.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Banks, Allemand, Haroldson and Pendergraft and Senator(s) French, Laursen, D and Salazar

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to property; restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land in Wyoming as specified; defining terms; requiring registration as specified; authorizing enforcement of ownership restrictions as specified; providing a civil penalty; requiring the inclusion of notices of foreign ownership in assessment schedules and tax statements; specifying applicability; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

 

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

 

Section 1.  W.S. 3415104 is created to read:

 

3415104.  Restriction on foreign ownership of agricultural land; registration; penalty; enforcement.

 

(a)  As used in this section:

 

(i)  "Agricultural land" means any land that is located outside the exterior boundaries of any incorporated city or town that is used principally for farming or ranching or for:

 

(A)  The cultivation of the soil for production of crops;

 

(B)  The production of timber products or grasses for forage;

 

(C)  The rearing, feeding, grazing or management of livestock;

 

(D)  A farmstead structure; or

 

(E)  Any other agricultural purpose.

 

(ii)  "Foreign business" means a corporation incorporated under the laws of a foreign government or a business entity, whether or not incorporated, in which a majority interest is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by foreign persons or by a foreign government. Legal entities including trusts, holding companies, multiple corporations or other entities with other business arrangements shall not affect the determination of ownership or control of a foreign business;

 

(iii)  "Foreign government" means a government other than:

 

(A)  The government of the United States or its states, localities, territories or possessions;

 

(B)  The government of any federally or state recognized Indian tribe or band.

 

(iv)  "Foreign person" means a person who is not either:

 

(A)  A citizen of the United States; or

 

(B)  A person lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent residence by the United States immigration and naturalization service, including a person whose lawful permanent resident status is conditional. 

 

(b)  No foreign government, foreign business or foreign person, or any agent, trustee or fiduciary thereof, shall purchase or otherwise acquire agricultural land in Wyoming. A foreign government, foreign business or foreign person, or any agent, trustee or fiduciary thereof, that owns or holds agricultural land in Wyoming on July 1, 2023 may continue to own or hold the agricultural land but shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the agricultural land to another foreign government, foreign business or foreign person.

 

(c)  A foreign business, foreign government or foreign person, or any agent, trustee or fiduciary thereof, that owns an interest in agricultural land in Wyoming in accordance with subsection (b) of this section on or after July 1, 2023 shall register the ownership of the agricultural land with the secretary of state. The registration shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary of state and shall contain the name of the owner, the location of the agricultural land, the number of acres of the agricultural land by county and, if the owner is an agent, trustee or fiduciary of a foreign business, foreign government or foreign person, the name of any principal for whom that agricultural land was purchased or acquired. The registration shall be made not later than sixty (60) days after July 1, 2023 and shall be updated annually on or before March 31 of each year.

 

(d)  A foreign business, foreign government or a foreign person, or any agent, trustee or fiduciary thereof, who fails to register or timely register agricultural land as required by subsection (c) of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for each day that the foreign business, foreign government or a foreign person, or any agent, trustee or fiduciary thereof, is not in compliance with subsection (c) of this section.

 

(e)  Each county clerk shall report to the secretary of state if a foreign entity, foreign government or foreign person, or any agent, trustee or fiduciary thereof, purchases or acquires agricultural land in the county in violation of this section or if the clerk suspects that agricultural land was purchased or acquired in the county by a foreign entity, foreign government or foreign person.

 

(f)  The secretary of state shall report any violation of this section to the attorney general if the secretary of state finds that a foreign business, foreign government or a foreign person, or any agent, trustee or fiduciary thereof, has acquired or holds title to or an interest in agricultural land in Wyoming in violation of this section or has failed to register as required by this section. The attorney general may take any action necessary to enforce the provisions of this section, including initiating an action in the district court of any county in which the agricultural land is located.

 

Section 2.  W.S. 3913103(b)(viii) and 3913107(b)(i)(C) are amended to read:

 

3913103.  Imposition.

 

(b)  Basis of tax.  The following shall apply:

 

(viii)  Every assessment schedule sent to a taxpayer shall contain the property's estimated fair market value for the current and previous year, or, productive value in the case of agricultural property. The schedule shall also contain the assessment ratio as provided by paragraph (b)(iii) of this section for the taxable property, the amount of taxes assessed on the taxable property from the previous year, and an estimate of the taxes which will be due and payable for the current year based on the previous year's mill levies. The schedule shall also contain information stating that foreign ownership of agricultural land in Wyoming is prohibited and describing the requirement to register foreign ownership of agricultural land with the secretary of state as provided by W.S. 3415104.  The schedule shall contain a statement of the process to contest assessments as prescribed by W.S. 3913109(b)(i);

 

3913107.  Compliance; collection procedures.

 

(b)  The following provisions shall apply to the payment of taxes, distraint of property and deferral:

 

(i)  The following shall apply to the payment of taxes due:

 

(C)  Annually, on or before October 10 the county treasurer shall send a written statement to each taxpayer by mail at his last known address or, if offered by the county and upon request of the taxpayer, by electronic transmission of the total tax due, itemized as to property description, assessed value and mill levies. The notice shall contain information, including contact information, of any property tax relief program authorized by state law. The notice shall contain information stating that foreign ownership of agricultural land in Wyoming is prohibited and describing the requirement to register foreign ownership of agricultural land with the secretary of state as provided by W.S. 3415104. Failure to send notice, or to demand payment of taxes, does not invalidate any taxes due;

 

Section 3.  Except as provided in W.S. 3415104(b), as created by section 1 of this act, nothing in this act shall be construed to divest, extinguish or sever any interest in or claim to agricultural land in Wyoming.

 

Section 4.  The secretary of state shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

 

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)

January 9, 2023

Montana's far right legislators have also formed their own Freedom Caucus.