June 8, 2021
2022 will be a budget session, but already there are a fair number of bills that are lining up to be introduced that have nothing to do with the budget.
The first of these to really make the news is one that has now passed committee to the extent that the committee has agreed to further study it would establish a ranked choice primary, like Maine's. In that, you vote for your first choice, and a second and maybe a third. Under that system, if your top choice got knocked out by some percentage, your other choices then kick in.
This is, I'd note, actually an unfair system in that casting your second choice as the one that counts doesn't actually mean that if the vote had been a heads up competition between the whomever it now count against, would have been your choice had that been the actual contest. By way of an example, in Liz Cheney's first primary, she came first, with less than 50%, against Leland Christensen and Tim Stubson, who came in second and third respectively. If we'd had a ranked choice system, people who now dislike Cheney, most of whom were her fans before, think that the second or third choice would have won. Maybe they would have, but maybe not. In that instance, however, probably Christensen or Stubson would now be our Congressman. Personally, at the time, I voted for one of those other candidates and likely would have chosen one of the others, and not Cheney, if such a system had been in place.
The Governor's race really inspired this thinking and it provides a potentially much different example. Gordon faced a host of hardcore right wing, or perhaps more accurately populist, candidates. Backers of this system believe that one of those candidates would have been the nominee rather than Gordon.
If that had been the system, that's probably also correct, but thing had become so polarized by that point in time that Gordon voters likely would have voted second for Sam Galeotos and second place Friess voters for Harriet Hageman. That likely would have yielded the same results. If it didn't, there's a relatively decent chance that Mary Throne, the Democrat, would now be the Governor as Friess and Hageman, contrary to what GOP right wingers think, were not liked at all by a large number of conventional Republican voters. Throne pulled 28% of the vote in a state where the Democratic Party is practically dead, and against jovial but elderly and out of place Friess, or hard right Hageman, she definitely would have pulled significantly more. With internal discord at an all time high in the GOP right now, Republicans are actually highly vulnerable to the Democrats in such a scenario. If, for example, the hard right of the GOP that hates Gordon, and they do, were to replace him in 2022 with a candidate like Hageman, there's a really good chance that the Democrats could walk into the Governor's office.
Which is what basically happened when Democrat Mike Sullivan became our Governor years ago.
The other primary system that the committee passed for consideration is an open primary, which is a great idea.
In that system, the top two vote getters in a non-partisan primary advance.
Republicans here seem to think that this would mean that the top two vote getters would of course be Republicans, and the last Governor's race would have been between Gordon and Friess, and somehow Friess would have won. In reality, that race may well have still been between Gordon and Throne, as the state's numerous moderate Republicans would no longer have to actually register as that. Indeed, it'd probably lead to an exodus from the GOP as there's be little point for moderates to remain in it at all. That wouldn't help the GOP, but the GOP isn't grasping right now that the entire state isn't make up of populists.
Indeed, California has such a system, and the Republican' Party, which once sent the likes of Ronald Reagan to their Governor's mansion, sure doesn't send any Republicans to it now.
Anyhow, party primaries, in my view, unfairly given established parties a state sponsored lock on elections. That's inherently unfair and it should go into the dust bin. An open primary is a good idea.
June 10, 2021
A ballot initiative seeking to "legalize" "medical marijuana" and "decriminalize" recreational pot will be commenced for filing with the Wyoming Secretary of State today.
Neither of these initiatives if passed, and I predict they will be, will actually achieve either goal, as marijuana is illegal under the Federal law. Indeed, because of that much about its properties is not known as it cannot be studied like other substances under Federal law, none of which will prevent the inevitable future flood of lawsuits which will allege that smoking marijuana made the plaintiffs ill or ruined their lives.
What they would do is mean that any state laws prohibiting the dispensing of such materials would go away and it could be sold without a state penalty.
All in all, there are plenty of legal substances that fit the bill for medical treatment or to make people stoned and more aren't needed. The fact that the entire country is headed down this road is pretty good evidence that we've made a world that we really don't like very much.
While these initiatives should, in the greater sense, fail, they won't, and Wyoming can join the rush in western society to find one more way to distract, dull, and stupefy.
June 11, 2021
A bill that would prohibit businesses from requiring proof of vaccinations for the most part passed committee, with only Cathy Connolly voting against it.
August 30, 2021
A committee passed a bill providing subsidies to the movie industry for filming in Wyoming. There was only one vote against it.
September 19, 2021
A bill proposes to add three new judges to the district court line up across the state.
Another bill proposes to raise the judicial retirement age from 70 to 75 years of age.
September 25, 2021
A bill has been introduced to eliminate no compete clauses in employment contracts.
October 10, 2021
A group opposing the proposed amendment to the Wyoming Constitution to change the election system to one featuring runoffs took out a full-page ad in today's tribune.
October 11, 2021
A draft bill proposes to make it clear that the Tribes on the Wind River Reservation are eligible for funding from the Wyoming Business Council.
It had always been assumed that they were, but recently there's been some doubt due t a recent Attorney General's opinion.
December 2, 2021
Two bills that proposed to create a runoff system for Wyoming's elections, should no candidate receive 50% of the vote in the primary, failed in committee
December 17, 2021
While it's making headline news, the actual impact would be small. The Joint Revenue Committee is sponsoring a bill to allow an optional tax on the sale of real property which sells for over $1,000,000. The tax would be 1%.
There's also a bill to eliminate the exemptions for professional services from sales tax (legal service, engineering services).
January 20, 2022
HB32 is a proposed bill that requires government entities, health care facilities and providers of essential services to provide accommodations for those who are not vaccinated.
January 29, 2022
The legislature is set to add two new House districts and one new Senate district.
A proposed Natrona County House district would run basically from eastern Natrona County outside of downtown Casper to the Converse County line, and is supposed to be more of an "energy district". A Senate district is proposed to include the "central eastern" parts of the state and would include parts of Natrona County and Converse County, again separating out parts of the same region.
The legislatures redistricting map can be found here.
February 3, 2022
It should be noted that because this is a budget session, bills have to have something like a super majority in order to be considered.
This means that most bills discussed here will go nowhere.
Senate File 51 would ban would require any participant in high school sports to register on teams comporting to their genetic gender and provides a cause of action for students who lose a spot on a team where a violation of the bill occurs. The bill states:
SENATE FILE NO. SF0051
Fairness in women's sports act.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Schuler, French, Salazar and Steinmetz and Representative(s) Gray, Haroldson and Jennings
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to school sports; prohibiting biological males from athletic teams and sports designated for females in public schools; establishing related causes of action and protections for individuals and educational institutions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 21‑25‑101 through 21‑25‑103 are created to read:
CHAPTER 25
FAIRNESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS ACT
21‑25‑101. Short title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act."
21‑25‑102. Designation of athletic teams or sports.
(a) Interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural or club athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a public primary or public secondary school, a public institution of higher education or any school or institution whose students or teams compete against a public school or public institution of higher education must be expressly designated as one (1) of the following based on the biological sex at birth of team members:
(i) Males, men or boys;
(ii) Females, women or girls; or
(iii) Coed or mixed, including both males and females.
(b) Athletic teams or sports designated for females, women or girls shall not be open to students of the male sex.
(c) For purposes of this chapter, a statement of a student's biological sex on the student's official birth certificate is considered to have correctly stated the student's biological sex at birth if the statement was filed at or near the time of the student's birth.
21‑25‑103. Cause of action; civil remedies.
(a) Any student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers any direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of this chapter shall have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief available under law against the school, institution of higher education or athletic association or organization that violated this act.
(b) Any student who is subject to retaliation or other adverse action by a school, institution of higher education or athletic association or organization as a result of reporting a violation of this chapter to an employee or representative of the school, institution or athletic association or organization, or to any state or federal agency with oversight of schools or institutions of higher education in this state, shall have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief available under law against the school, institution or athletic association or organization.
(c) Any school or institution of higher education that suffers any direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of this chapter shall have a private cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief available under law against the governmental entity, licensing or accrediting organization or athletic association or organization.
(d) All civil actions brought under this section must be initiated within two (2) years after the alleged harm occurred. Persons or organizations who prevail on a claim brought under this section shall be entitled to monetary damages, including for any psychological, emotional or physical harm suffered, reasonable attorney's fees and costs and any other appropriate relief.
Section 2. Not later than August 15, 2022, the state board of education, the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming community college commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act.
Section 3.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2022.
(b) Sections 2 and 3 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.
Of the sponsors of the bill, only Chuck Gray commented.
As noted above, whatever a person thinks of the bill and the issue, it's unlikely to get consideration in a budget session, so this does raise the question of why bother with such bills in the off years.
Another bill proposes to greatly tighten restrictions where an elected official is also employed by a governmental entity which receives funding through it.
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0026
Dual public employment and office holding.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Fortner, Ottman and Rodriguez-Williams and Senator(s) Bouchard, French, James and McKeown
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to elections; imposing restrictions on public employment and holding elected public office as specified; amending restrictions on holding multiple elected public offices as specified; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 22‑2‑116 is amended to read:
22‑2‑116. Restrictions on holding more than one elected public office; restrictions on holding public employment and elected public office.
(a) No person may shall hold an elective public office in any governmental entity which either provides any funding for or receives any funding from another any governmental entity in which that person is employed or holds elected public office. If a person also is elected to a public office while holding another public office or hired by a governmental entity such that this section is applicable, the person shall resign from the employment or public office first held prior to assuming the new office or employment.
(b) As used in this section:
(i) "Governmental entity" means any unit of state government or local government or any branch, subdivision or agency thereof or any school district, special district or other political subdivision of the state;
(ii) "Local government" means any county, city or town.
Section 2. This act is effective January 1, 2024.
Another bill proposes housing assistance to some Judges who reside in districts where housing is expensive. This must be an effort to increase the attractiveness of those positions.
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0266
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0040
Judges-housing allowance.
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to courts; authorizing the award of housing assistance to judges and justices as specified; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 5‑1‑112 is created to read:
5‑1‑112. Housing assistance for judges.
Subject to constitutional and statutory provisions concerning when salaries can become effective, justices of the supreme court and judges of the district courts, chancery courts and circuit courts may receive housing assistance if the judge or justice resides in a county in Wyoming where the average cost of housing is significantly higher than the statewide population weighted average cost of housing. The supreme court shall promulgate rules for the award of housing assistance under this section.
Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2022.
This is frankly sad/distressing in some ways.
Yet another effort is being made to convert those courts into geriatocracies:
2022
STATE OF WYOMING
22LSO-0115
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. HJ0001
Supreme court justices and district judges-retirement.
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee
A JOINT RESOLUTION
for
A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing to amend the Wyoming Constitution by amending the retirement age requirements for Wyoming supreme court justices and district court judges.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING, two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:
Section 1. The following proposal to amend the Wyoming Constitution, Article 5, Section 5 is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the next general election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:
Article 5, Section 5. Voluntary retirement and compensation of justices and judges.
Subject to the further provisions of this section, the legislature shall provide for the voluntary retirement and compensation of justices and judges of the supreme court and district courts, and may do so for any other courts, on account of length of service, age and disability, and for their reassignment to active duty where and when needed. The office of every such justice and judge shall become vacant when the incumbent reaches the age of seventy (70) seventy-five (75) years, as the legislature may prescribe.; but, in the case of an incumbent whose term of office includes the effective date of this amendment, this provision shall not prevent him from serving the remainder of said term nor be applicable to him before his period or periods of judicial service shall have reached a total of six (6) years. The legislature may also provide for benefits for dependents of justices and judges.
Section 2. That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:
Currently, the Wyoming Constitution requires Wyoming Supreme Court justices and district court judges to retire upon reaching the age of seventy (70). This amendment increases the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court justices and district court judges from age seventy (70) to age seventy-five (75).
The Constitution also currently provides an exception to the mandatory requirement to retire upon reaching age seventy (70) for justices and judges who had not yet completed six (6) years of judicial service as of December 12, 1972. The proposed amendment would remove the now-obsolete six (6) year service guarantee.
70 is old enough for these positions. Here's hoping this bill gets nowhere.
A bill has been introduced on vehicles that are self-driving.
SENATE FILE NO. SF0016
Vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.
Sponsored by: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Interim Committee
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to motor vehicles; providing for the regulation of vehicles equipped with an automated driving system; defining terms; authorizing fees; creating an account; creating penalties; requiring rulemaking; requiring reports; and providing for effective dates.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 31‑21‑101 through 31‑21‑109 are created to read:
CHAPTER 21
AUTONOMOUS MOTOR VEHICLES
ARTICLE 1
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM
31‑21‑101. Definitions.
(a) As used in this article:
(i) "Automated driving system" or "ADS" means the hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis, regardless of whether the system is limited to a specific operational design domain. An ADS is used specifically to describe a level 3, 4 or 5 driving automation system as the standards of driving automation are defined in the SAE J3016 standard. An ADS equipped vehicle shall not include a motor vehicle that is equipped with systems that enhance safety or provide the human driver assistance, such as collision avoidance systems, which are not capable, collectively or singularly, of driving the motor vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human driver;
(ii) "Commercial vehicle" means as defined in W.S. 31‑18‑101(a)(iii), unless specified otherwise;
(iii) "Department" means the department of transportation;
(iv) "Dispatching entity" means a human who dispatches an ADS equipped vehicle in driverless operation;
(v) "Dynamic driving task" means all of the real‑time operational and tactical functions required to operate a motor vehicle in on‑road traffic, including any specific functions identified in department rules, and excluding strategic functions such as trip scheduling and selection of destinations and waypoints;
(vi) "Human driver" means a natural person in the vehicle with a valid class of license for the type of motor vehicle being operated who controls all or part of the dynamic driving task;
(vii) "Operate" or "operation" means the activities collectively performed by a human driver with or without support from one (1) or more SAE J3016 driving automation level 1 or 2 system features or by a dispatching entity and an ADS to perform the entire dynamic driving task for a motor vehicle;
(viii) "SAE J3016" means the Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On‑Road Motor Vehicles published by Society of Automotive Engineers International in June 2018.
31‑21‑102. Operation of a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system; safety at railroad crossings.
(a) A vehicle equipped with an ADS may be operated on the highways of this state provided:
(i) The ADS equipped vehicle is registered pursuant to this title;
(ii) The dispatching entity, or human driver if applicable, causes the ADS equipped vehicle to comply with all applicable traffic, motor vehicle and equipment laws and rules of this state, unless an exemption has been granted under department rules;
(iii) While in driverless operation, the ADS equipped vehicle is capable of operating in compliance with the applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws and rules of this state;
(iv) The ADS equipped vehicle is in compliance with all applicable safety standards, equipment requirements and performance requirements of state and federal law, unless a waiver has been granted by the relevant regulating agency;
(v) The ADS equipped vehicle is in compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards for the vehicle's model year or has a United States department of transportation or other relevant federal agency approved exemption from specific compliance.
(b) The department may impose by rule any additional requirements necessary to ensure the safe operation of ADS equipped vehicles. Additional requirements may include rules for safely crossing railroad grade crossings. When promulgating rules that affect ADS equipped vehicle operations at railroad crossings, no exemption from department rules shall be granted for a vehicle model without having performed not less than one (1) onsite diagnostic at a railroad crossing involving the department and all railroad companies that operate at the crossing. Nothing in this subsection shall supersede the requirements in W.S. 31‑5‑511.
(c) The department may by rule require notice from any entity demonstrating or testing new technology or operating conditions of a vehicle equipped with an ADS in the state. The information required as part of the notification process may be established by rule of the department.
31‑21‑103. Valid license; requirements of dispatching entities and human drivers.
(a) A dispatching entity operating a vehicle equipped with an ADS shall have a valid class of license for the type of motor vehicle being operated.
(b) Nothing in this article prohibits or restricts a human driver from operating a vehicle equipped with an ADS that allows the human driver to control all or part of the dynamic driving task provided that the human driver holds the appropriate class of license for the type of motor vehicle being operated.
31‑21‑104. Signage for commercial vehicles, registration and title of vehicles equipped with an automated driving system; insurance; reporting.
(a) A commercial vehicle equipped with an ADS shall be clearly marked on the front, back and each side with appropriate signage notifying the public and law enforcement that it is operating autonomously. The markings shall include conspicuous contact information written in a size and font readable from not less than fifteen (15) feet away, to reach the dispatching entity.
(b) A vehicle equipped with an ADS shall be properly registered in accordance with W.S. 31‑2‑201, 31‑18‑201 if applicable, and department rules.
(c) A vehicle equipped with an ADS shall be properly titled in accordance with W.S. 31‑2‑101 and department rules.
(d) At the time of registration and annual renewal of registration of a vehicle equipped with an ADS the following shall be submitted to the county treasurer in the county where the vehicle is registered:
(i) Any update to the contact information of the dispatching entity;
(ii) Verification the motor vehicle is covered in an aggregate amount of not less than five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) by a motor vehicle liability policy in full force and effect, or a bond on file with the department or self‑insurance pursuant to W.S. 31‑9‑414 in the same amount, either of which satisfies the requirements of W.S. 31‑2‑225(e);
(iii) Verification of the uninsured motorist coverage as required by W.S. 31‑10‑101;
(iv) For a commercial vehicle equipped with an ADS, an annual year‑end report for the previous year, submitted to the department, of the number of miles operated, safety issues encountered, any collisions, the amount of damages caused to any person or property, any injury to any human requiring medical attention and any striking of a big game animal.
31‑21‑105. Requirements for commercial vehicles equipped with an automated driving system; prohibition of double, triple trailers and oversize or overweight loads.
(a) In addition to all other requirements and fees under this article applicable to vehicles equipped with an ADS, a commercial vehicle equipped with an ADS shall:
(i) Obtain a commercial permit specific to commercial vehicles equipped with an ADS and any mandated inspections or certificates specific to commercial vehicles equipped with an ADS according to rules and fees set by the department to recover a proportionate share of the department's infrastructure and administrative expenses incurred attributable specifically to regulation of commercial vehicles equipped with an ADS. Once established, the department may annually adjust the fees authorized under this paragraph not to exceed the percentage increase in the Wyoming cost‑of‑living index, as determined by the division of economic analysis of the department of administration and information, unless authorized by the legislature;
(ii) Obtain an annual public safety communications system authorization and connection (WyoLink or other department approved method of communication), together with the payment of an annual fee of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), that will allow any Wyoming peace officer, public safety dispatch or the department to communicate directly with the dispatching entity, or human driver if applicable, and give that dispatching entity, or human driver if applicable, real‑time commands. The connection information may be coded so that only law enforcement, public safety dispatch or the department may contact the dispatching entity.
(b) A dispatching entity shall comply with all licensing, training for hazardous materials, hours of service, drug testing, communication and other requirements that a Wyoming based commercial vehicle driver is required to comply with for operation in this state.
(c) No commercial vehicle equipped with an ADS in any combination of two (2) or more single vehicles or trailers and no oversize or overweight vehicles equipped with an ADS shall operate on the highways of this state.
(d) As used in this section, "commercial vehicle" means as defined in W.S. 31‑18‑201(a)(vii).
31‑21‑106. Duties after crashes involving vehicles equipped with an automated driving system; vehicle operating data.
(a) In the event of a crash involving a motor vehicle equipped with an ADS:
(i) The vehicle equipped with an ADS shall remain on the scene of the crash when required by W.S. 31‑5‑1101 and 31‑5‑1102;
(ii) The dispatching entity, human driver if applicable, or the ADS if the vehicle has the capability, shall promptly alert law enforcement or emergency services to the crash;
(iii) The dispatching entity or human driver if applicable shall provide all requested operating data from before and during the accident to Wyoming law enforcement and any victim or victim's representative. If the dispatching entity or human driver if applicable wishes to protect proprietary data, the dispatching entity or human driver may request that a judge in the district where the collision occurred perform an in camera inspection and rule on the redaction of proprietary data.
31‑21‑107. Rulemaking; fees; autonomous vehicle account.
(a) Consistent with this article and other applicable state and federal laws, the department shall promulgate rules and shall develop and provide any forms necessary to implement this article.
(b) For registration of a vehicle equipped with an ADS, in addition to the fees under W.S. 31‑3‑101, the department may assess an additional fee in an amount necessary to recover a proportionate share of the department's infrastructure and administrative expenses reasonably incurred attributable to regulation of motor vehicles equipped with an ADS. Once established, the department may annually adjust the fee authorized under this subsection not to exceed the percentage increase in the Wyoming cost‑of‑living index, as determined by the division of economic analysis of the department of administration and information, unless authorized by the legislature.
(c) All funds the department receives from the fees authorized in subsection (b) of this section and W.S. 31‑21‑105(a) shall be deposited into the state highway fund.
31‑21‑108. Penalties.
Any person who violates any provision of this article or rule of the department pursuant to this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) per day for the first occurrence and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per day for a subsequent offense.
31‑21‑109. Annual report.
(a) Not later than October 1 of each year, the department shall submit a report to the joint transportation, highways and military affairs interim committee. The annual report shall contain the following information for all registered vehicles equipped with an ADS to the extent that it is available and shall separately report the information for commercial vehicles equipped with an ADS:
(i) A summary of operations in Wyoming;
(ii) The total number of ADS equipped vehicles registered in Wyoming and ADS equipped commercial vehicles permitted in Wyoming;
(iii) Miles driven for the past year and projected miles driven for the next year;
(iv) Collision statistics;
(v) A brief description of all moving violations and registration, title or permit violations;
(vi) Recommendations for safety related legislation or legislation concerning other aspects of ADS equipped vehicles;
(vii) Other data necessary to summarize fairly and accurately the annual operations of ADS equipped vehicles in Wyoming.
Section 2. Not later than September 1, 2022, the department shall promulgate rules to administer this act.
Section 3.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, 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.
(b) Section 1 of this act is effective September 1, 2022.
The state is having a terrible time balancing its books, but nonetheless the legislature is looking at repealing the inheritance tax, which only applies in Wyoming to the extremely wealthy.\
SENATE FILE NO. SF0034
Inheritance tax fees-repeal.
Sponsored by: Joint Revenue Interim Committee
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to taxation and revenue; repealing the collection of fees related to state inheritance taxes; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 39‑19‑102(a) is repealed.
Section 2. This act is effective July 1, 2022.
Why?
Another bill seeks to catch up with the times in regard to the sale of utilities for electrical vehicles.
SENATE FILE NO. SF0035
Electric vehicle charging stations-regulation exemption.
Sponsored by: Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Interim Committee
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to public utilities; specifying that the retail sale of electricity for charging electric vehicles is not subject to public utility provisions as specified; making conforming amendments to regulation exceptions; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 37‑1‑101(a)(vi)(H)(VII) and by creating a new subdivision (X) is amended to read:
37‑1‑101. Definitions.
(a) As used in chapters 1, 2, 3, 12, 17 and 18 of this title:
(vi) "Public utility" means and includes every person that owns, operates, leases, controls or has power to operate, lease or control:
(H) None of the provisions of this chapter shall apply to:
(VII) The retail sale of compressed natural gas for use as motor vehicle fuel by a company which person that is not otherwise regulated under this title;
(X) The retail sale of electricity for charging electric vehicles by a person that is not otherwise regulated under this title.
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.
