2019 Legislature. A few more bills.

A few more bills being signed into law:

BILL SIGNING FROM 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27
A formal bill signing has been requested for the following bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #	Bill Title
HB0155	HEA No. 0079	Guardianships-reintegration planning authorized.
HB0169	HEA No. 0081	Lifetime fishing licenses for permanently disabled persons.
HB0173	HEA No. 0085	Court supervised treatment program account.
The governor will act upon these bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #	Bill Title
HB0111	HEA No. 0075	Environmental quality council-voting amendments.
HB0118	HEA No. 0076	Family college savings program-repeal.
HB0142	HEA No. 0077	Wildlife and natural resource trust account board-duties.
HB0065	HEA No. 0078	Procurement amendments.
HB0163	HEA No. 0080	Child labor penalties.
HB0098	HEA No. 0082	Rights of way-communications services.
HB0191	HEA No. 0083	Driver's licenses-medical alert designation.
BILL SIGNING FROM 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27
A formal bill signing has been requested for the following bill:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #	Bill Title
SJ0006	SEJR No. 0004	Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week.
HB0196	HEA No. 0088	Local regulation-subdivisions.
HB0211	HEA No. 0089	Mental health and substance use coverage parity.
The governor will act upon these bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #	Bill Title
HB0170	HEA No. 0084	Child protective service workers-training.
HB0195	HEA No. 0086	Electronic notice-portable electronic device insurance.
HB0210	HEA No. 0087	Collection agency board-members.
HB0214	HEA No. 0090	Real estate brokers-retention of records.
HB0229	HEA No. 0091	Payment processor-state government.
HB0253	HEA No. 0092	Water service-public utility exemption.
HB0134	HEA No. 0093	Livestock brands-amendments.

There is something indescribably odd about a summit between the leaders of North Korea and the United States in Vietnam

Who won the Vietnam War?  Can of Saigon Gold Limited Edition Premium Lager brewed by Vietnam's largest brewery, owned by Thai ThaiBev.  This is from their Vietnamese language website, using English language, and some sort of stylized Oriental dragon.  At some point you have to suspect that the NVA really cashed in their chips at the American party favor table.  Maybe Donald Trump, who never had  the chance to try this breweries 1960s big item, "33 Beer", but if he wants to, it's still offered as "333 Beer".

Indeed, a lot of it is weird.

First of all, there's the odd budding friendship between the U.S. and Vietnam, and by Vietnam, we partially mean the government of Vietnam which we had hoped to keep coming to power in the first place and which we fought against for well over a decade.

And then we only got involved in Vietnam in the first place when the North Korean invasion of South Korea suddenly sparked out interests in trying to make sure that the French didn't go down the tubes in Indochina.

And the meeting is in Hanoi, which has been the seat of the Communist government of Vietnam since the French departed, but which now has a Victoria's Secret, which suggests that while we may have lost the war, we're winning the peace there.

Heck, Coca Cola Vietnam was recently voted one of the two most sustainable, i.e,. green, companies in Vietnam.  Coca Cola Vietnam?

Well, heck, what can we say about that.  The Communist government privatized its largest beer producer which was bought by ThaiBev.  It's big brand, among several, is Saigon Beer.  Not Ho Chi Minh City beer.

Anyhow, North Vietnam received more aid from Communist China than it did from the Soviet Union during the war, and up to 100,000 Chinese troops were in the north during the war, but immediately after the war the two Communist countries had a falling out and they've reverted to their default not liking each other at all, even though both are evolving away from real Communism into some sort of weird corporate capitalism pretty quickly.

And then there's Donald Trump, who had a deferment during the war after having attended a military prep school, now ending up in Vietnam, to meet Kim Jong-un, the Communist monarch of North Korea, who has never been in anyone's military but who attended private school in Switzerland, which is about as non Communist as you can get.

Kim Jong-un has gotten over his exposure to the West, apparently, even though in Stalinist Russia that would have resulted in a prison sentence, only to become the dictator of an inherited Stalinist theme park.  This is so much the case that he's going to the summit, or rather to the Vietnamese border, on an armored train.  Armored trains are something that haven't been real military technology since at least World War Two and are really something out of the Russian Civil War. They're absurd, but everything about North Korea is absurd.

2019 Wyoming Legislature. . and two more bills head to the Governor's desk. And another tax bill dies.

The bill to remove certain considerations from County's and vest them with the School Facilities Commission has passed the legislature and is on its way to Governor Gordon's desk.  It'll be interesting to see what he does with it.

The bill, as we've noted here before, came about as a plan by a Freiss backed private school in Teton County ran afoul of Teton County's building limitation size.  This bill would take such considerations away from counties and vest them with the School Facilities commissions, but it would also stand on its head the local control principal that generally the GOP likes.  If this consideration can be taken away from counties, others can be as well, and there's no guaranty that future administrations will necessarily be friendly to generally conservative interests.  I wonder if Gordon might veto the bill. If he does, it doesn't appear to have enough support for a veto override.

We'll know soon.

And a bill legalizing hemp farming on the state level, which does nothing to legalize it at the Federal level, has passed.  If Gordon signs it, prospective hemp farmers will still require a license from the Federal government, which is at least theoretically fairly restrictive.

At the same time, the proposed lodging tax died.

Lodging taxes have generally been well received by Wyomingites as, the argument goes, we don't pay them.

Well, we do a bit, but the way it works does give rise to that logic.  Various counties impose the tax, and as people rarely stay in hotels in their own counties, you're taxing visitors, which we are usually okay with.

Not this year, apparently. The proposal to raise the limit on the lodging tax, just like the big box retailer income tax, bit the dust.  We've read a lot about government in Wyoming hurting for money in recent years, but the legislature is clearly unwilling, this year, to take it on in the form of alternatives to the severance tax.

The 2019 Wyoming legislature, more bill that became law. Beer Freedom, Hunting Technology, Electric Vehicles, Illegitimacy, and more.

Some more recently passed bills that Governor Gordon has signed.

BILLS BEING SIGNED FROM 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
A formal bill signing has been requested for the following bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #		Bill Title
SF0113	SEA No. 0038		Retail purchases of alcoholic liquors for resale.
SF0127	SEA No. 0041		Felony fleeing or eluding police.
SF0080	SEA No. 0042		Passing stopped school bus-recorded images.
SF0077	SEA No. 0044		2019 large project funding.
SF0072	SEA No. 0047		Sexual assault biological evidence reporting.
SF0060	SEA No. 0051		Protection of children-child endangerment amendments.
SF0096	SEA No. 0053		Repeal-hospital records and information statutes.
SJ0009	SEJR No. 0003		Medal of Honor highway.
HB0095	HEA No. 0037		Special purpose tax-excess funds.
HB0133	HEA No. 0039		Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships.
HB0152	HEA No. 0042		Wyoming Underground Facilities Notification Act-amendments.
HB0246	HEA No. 0055		Volunteer pension account-search and rescue.
HB0022	HEA No. 0061		Teacher accountability.
HB0086	HEA No. 0062		Summary probate procedures.
BILLS BEING SIGNED FROM 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
A formal bill signing has been requested for the following bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #		Bill Title
HB0028	HEA No. 0064		Regulation of shed antler and big game horn collection.
HB0257	HEA No. 0065		Clubhouse-based psychosocial rehabilitation programs.
HB0157	HEA No. 0066		Termination of parental rights-standing.
HB0116	HEA No. 0071		New vehicle dealer claims.
HB0090	HEA No. 0073		Community college police officer retirement.
The governor will take action on the following bills:
SJ0010	SEJR No. 0002	Multiple use of public lands.
SF0125	SEA No. 0039	Digital assets-existing law.
SF0151	SEA No. 0040	Judicial salary increases.
SF0041	SEA No. 0043	County fair endowment.
SF0081	SEA No. 0045	Electric bicycles-regulation.
SF0085	SEA No. 0046	Wyoming Medicaid Fraud Control Act.
SF0068	SEA No. 0048	Meat from harvested livestock or poultry.
SF0044	SEA No. 0049	Multiple employer welfare arrangements.
SF0038	SEA No. 0050	Limitation on length of probation.
SF0129	SEA No. 0052	Education reporting requirements.
SF0096	SEA No. 0053	Repeal-hospital records and information statutes.
SF0140	SEA No. 0054	Alcoholic beverages-direct sales.
SF0045	SEA No. 0055	Emergency administration of opiate antagonist-revisions.
SF0102	SEA No. 0056	Circuit court bank accounts.
HB0301	HEA No. 0036	WRS board member qualifications.
HB0081	HEA No. 0038	Omnibus water bill-planning.
HB0076	HEA No. 0041	Wyoming Beer Freedom Act.
HB0023	HEA No. 0043	Education accountability.
HB0041	HEA No. 0044	UW board of trustees-chairman.
HB0109	HEA No. 0045	Advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner program-amendment.
HB0131	HEA No. 0046	Build Wyoming-amendments.
HB0074	HEA No. 0047	Special purpose depository institutions.
HB0216	HEA No. 0048	Wyoming children's trust fund-amendments.
HB0185	HEA No. 0049	Corporate stock-certificate tokens.
HB0070	HEA No. 0050	Commercial filing system.
HB0063	HEA No. 0052	Pharmacy benefit managers-prescription cost notification.
BILLS BEING SIGNED FROM 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
The governor will take action on the following bills:
Bill No.	Enrolled Act #		Bill Title
HB0053	HEA No. 0053		Probation and parole-incentives and sanctions.
HB0002	HEA No. 0054		Regulation of hunting methods.
HB0091	HEA No. 0056		Patching Prexy's Pasture parallelogram problem.
HB0159	HEA No. 0057		Volunteer reserve officers-liability coverage.
HB0269	HEA No. 0058		Illegitimate persons descent-repeal.
HB0097	HEA No. 0059		Taxation of broadband internet infrastructure.
HB0049	HEA No. 0060		Reversion of funds-emergency fire suppression account.
HB0166	HEA No. 0063		Electric vehicle fee.
HB0280	HEA No. 0067		Funeral service practitioners.
HB0247	HEA No. 0068		Broadband development program-amendments.
HB0219	HEA No. 0069		Alcoholic beverages-24 hour permit.
HB0175	HEA No. 0070		Wyoming insurance guaranty association-revisions.
HB0101	HEA No. 0072		Joint powers boards-natural gas service.
HB0009	HEA No. 0074		Antifreeze and petroleum standards enforcement.
HJ0002	HEJR No. 0002		Funding sewage systems.

Some interesting ones.

Highway 20 is becoming the Medal of Honor Highway:

A JOINT RESOLUTION designating United States Highway 20 as the Medal of Honor Highway.

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is our nation's highest award for valor presented to veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States for acting with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the risk of one's life during combat with an enemy of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Medal of Honor is widely respected by the military and public alike; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming has been home to seventeen (17) Medal of Honor recipients from the United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps who served in five (5) wars from the Civil War to the Vietnam War, over a period of one hundred seven (107) years; and

WHEREAS, the following Medal of Honor recipients are connected with Wyoming: William Doolen, Civil War; Thomas Harding, Civil War; Allen Thompson, Civil War; Francis Warren, Civil War; Charles Bessey, Indian War Campaigns; William Bryan, Indian War Campaigns; Thomas Forsyth, Indian War Campaigns; William Lewis, Indian War Campaigns; John McLennon, Indian War Campaigns; John Merrill, Indian War Campaigns; Patrick Rogan, Indian War Campaigns; Edward Baker Jr., Spanish American War; Charles Roberts, Spanish American War; Vernon Baker, WWII; Charles Carey Jr., WWII; Donald Ruhl, WWII and William Adams, Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming's seventeen (17) Medal of Honor recipients resided in, entered service from, or were laid to rest in seven (7) Wyoming cities including Casper, Cheyenne, Greybull, Laramie, Powder River and Rock Springs; and

WHEREAS, during 2017 the nonprofit Bend Heroes Foundation and the Oregon Legislature created a law designating all four hundred fifty-one (451) miles of the border to border U.S. Highway 20 in Oregon as the Oregon Medal of Honor Highway, a first in our nation to honor all of a state's Medal of Honor recipients; and

WHEREAS, the Oregon Medal of Honor Highway with twelve (12) signs already installed is located on U.S. Highway 20, the longest highway in our nation between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and which crosses twelve (12) states including Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, the Oregon law suggested a first ever national Medal of Honor Highway would be created if all twelve (12) states through which U.S. Highway 20 traverses designate border to border Medal of Honor Highways in their states; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming has not dedicated a border to border highway to honor all of Wyoming's Medal of Honor recipients or other veterans; and

WHEREAS, a five hundred thirty-two (532) mile border to border Wyoming Medal of Honor Highway on U.S. Highway 20 would honor Wyoming's current and future Medal of Honor recipients and also facilitate a National Medal of Honor Highway across America honoring nearly sixty percent (60%) of all three thousand five hundred five (3,505) recipients of the Medal of Honor since it was created by the U.S. Congress and President Abraham Lincoln one hundred fifty-six (156) years ago; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming deeply appreciates the service and sacrifice of its Medal of Honor recipients and the positive roles they have played in their communities for more than one hundred (100) years; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming's veterans have offered to pay the cost to create and install the "Wyoming Medal of Honor Highway" signs.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1. The entire portion of U.S. Highway 20 beginning at the Montana/Wyoming border and ending at the Wyoming/Nebraska border shall also be known as the Wyoming Medal of Honor Highway, honoring current and future Medal of Honor recipients.

Section 2. The Wyoming Department of Transportation shall place and maintain suitable markers, including display of the three (3) versions of Medal of Honor medal along U.S. Highway 20 that designate the highway as the Wyoming Medal of Honor Highway.

Section 3.  The Wyoming Department of Transportation may accept monies from and may enter into agreements with veterans and other groups to create, install and maintain the signs.

Section 4.  That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the Wyoming Veterans' Commission, the Federal Highway Administration and the Purple Heart Foundation.

(END)

Speaker of the House			President of the Senate

	Governor
	TIME APPROVED: _________
	DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

There's been an expansion in the Hathaway scholarships:

ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED

BILL NO. HB0133

ENROLLED ACT NO. 39, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2019 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to education; providing for scholarships to out-of-state students to attend Wyoming institutions of higher education; specifying scholarship amounts, eligibility requirements and other elements of the scholarships; providing for resident tuition for scholarship recipients; creating a selection committee; creating accounts; making the award of scholarships contingent on funding as specified; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.  W.S. 21‑16‑1312 is created to read:

21‑16‑1312.  Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship; eligibility requirements and conditions; selection.

(a)  There is created the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship. The scholarship shall be administered by the department in accordance with this section and rules adopted by the department. Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship recipients shall be selected by a committee comprised of the governor, state superintendent of public instruction, president of the University of Wyoming and executive director of the community college commission, or their designees.

(b)  Each year up to two (2) students from each state contiguous to Wyoming may be awarded a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship, not to exceed an aggregate of twenty-four (24) active awards at any time. Awards of Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships shall be contingent on available funds and anticipated revenue to the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship expenditure account. Minimum initial qualifications for a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship shall be all initial requirements applicable to a Hathaway honor scholarship, other than Wyoming residency and graduation from a high school located in Wyoming. In addition to those requirements, recipients shall have:

(i)  A minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.75 and a score equal to or greater than the 2015‑2016 national percentile rank of ninety‑seven (97) on an examination administered throughout the United States and relied upon by institutions of higher education to determine acceptance of students for attendance;

(ii)  At the time of graduation, be a resident of a state contiguous to Wyoming and have successfully completed a curriculum at least as stringent as that imposed under W.S. 21‑16‑1307 for Hathaway honor scholarships.

(c)  A Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship shall be for the student's cost of attendance at an eligible institution, but not to exceed the maximum dollar amount provided to students receiving a trustee scholarship at the University of Wyoming and subject to reduction in accordance with W.S. 21‑16‑1309(a). No student shall be eligible for a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship for more than the equivalent of eight (8) full‑time semesters.  Minimum continuing eligibility and reinstatement eligibility requirements for a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship shall be the same as requirements for a Hathaway honors scholarship.  These minimum requirements may be increased by rule of the department to requirements no more stringent than those imposed by the University of Wyoming for recipients of a trustee scholarship.  Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships may be reduced in the same manner and to lower levels as provided for Hathaway honor scholarships for failure to meet continuing eligibility requirements.

(d)  Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships shall not be subject to the provisions of W.S. 21‑16‑1308, but shall be administered by the department in accordance with the provisions of this section and the following:

(i)  The department shall, in consultation with University of Wyoming and community college admissions officers and financial aid officers, promulgate rules necessary to implement this section. The consultation shall include development of a means for informing students in contiguous states of the availability of Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships;

(ii)  Eligible institutions shall provide information required by the department as necessary to fulfill its duties under this section;

(iii)  Students shall apply for Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships with the department at the time of applying for admission or at an earlier time as established by rule of the department.  The application shall contain information required by rule of the department. The application shall require each applicant to verify under penalty of false swearing under W.S. 6‑5‑303, that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony in this state or another jurisdiction;

(iv)  The department shall determine and certify to the state treasurer the amount of scholarships awarded under this section for attendance at each eligible institution not later than September 1 for the fall semester and not later than January 15 for the spring semester.  Upon receipt of the certification the state treasurer shall pay from the scholarship expenditure account the amount certified by the department;

(v)  The same information required to be reported under W.S. 21‑16‑1308 for Hathaway opportunity, performance and honor scholarships shall be reported for Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships awarded.

(e)  Before awarding a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship, the department shall obtain an agreement from each student, or the student's guardian, under which the student agrees to:

(i)  Actively engage in work in Wyoming for one (1) year or attend graduate school at the University of Wyoming for one (1) year, for every four (4) academic semesters or portions thereof in which a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship was received. The department shall establish by rule the commencement of the period for undertaking the requirements of this paragraph, which period shall begin not later than one (1) year after the completion of the last semester in which a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship was received; or

(ii)  Repay all Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship amounts, together with interest which shall begin accruing four (4) years after execution of the agreement. However, interest shall begin to accrue immediately upon the department determining that the student has withdrawn from the Wyoming institution of higher education or is otherwise not making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a degree or program.  Money expended under this section shall accrue at an annual interest rate equal to that charged for federal direct student loans at the time interest begins to accrue, which rate shall be adjusted annually to match the federal direct student loan rate.  In no event shall the interest rate be greater than eight percent (8%).  Any amountsrepaid by Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship recipients shall be deposited to the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund created by W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(viii).

(f)  The Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship expenditure account is created to consist of earnings from the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund created by W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(viii) and such other funds appropriated by the legislature to the expenditure account. No state funds shall be appropriated to the expenditure account or used for scholarships under this section. The monies deposited to the expenditure account under this subsection shall be available for scholarships under this section. Monies within the expenditure account are continuously appropriated to the state treasurer for distribution to eligible institutions based on scholarships awarded under this section. All unexpended and unencumbered monies within the expenditure account at the end of each fiscal year shall be deposited by the state treasurer to the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund.

Section 2.  W.S. 9‑4‑204(u) by creating a new paragraph (viii), 9‑4‑714(a)(v), 21‑17‑105 by creating a new subsection (h) and 21‑18‑202(a)(iii) are amended to read:

9‑4‑204.  Funds established; use thereof.

(u)  Other funds defined as follows shall be classified by the state auditor pursuant to subsections (s) and (t) of this section:

(viii)  Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund – to consist of funds appropriated or designated by law, or by gift from whatever source. In accordance with Wyoming Constitution Article 15, Section 20, monies within the fund shall not be expended and may be invested in the same manner as other permanent funds of the state. Earnings from investment of monies within the fund shall be distributed and expended as provided by law. No state funds shall be appropriated or deposited into the fund.

9‑4‑714.  Definitions.

(a)  As used in this act:

(v)  "Permanent funds" means the permanent Wyoming mineral trust fund under W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(iii), the Wyoming permanent land fund under W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(iv), the excellence in higher education endowment fund under W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(vi), and the Hathaway student scholarship endowment fund under W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(vii) and the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund under W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(viii);

21‑17‑105.  Tuition to be as nearly free as possible; number, qualifications and selection of students for reduced tuition; tuition for veterans, their spouses and children; reciprocal residency.

(h)  Trustees shall through regulation provide that students receiving a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship in any amount shall qualify for resident tuition at the university each semester the student receives the scholarship.

21‑18‑202.  Powers and duties of the commission.

(a)  The commission shall perform the following general functions:

(iii)  Establish residency requirements, which shall include provisions for military veterans, eligible individuals and covered individuals as described in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c)(2) consistent with the requirements of W.S. 21‑17‑105(e). The commission shall provide that students receiving a Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship in any amount shall qualify for resident tuition each semester the student receives the scholarship;

Section 3.  Notwithstanding W.S. 21‑16‑1312 as created by this act, no Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships shall be awarded until the state treasurer certifies to the department of education the balance of the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund is equal to or greater than ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00). Once that threshold has been reached Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarships shall be awarded pursuant to W.S. 21‑16‑1312.

Section 4.  Notwithstanding W.S. 21‑16‑1312(f) as created by this act, earnings from the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund under W.S. 9‑4‑204(u)(viii), as created by this act, shall be deposited in the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund until the state treasurer certifies to the department of education the balance of the Hathaway expand Wyoming scholarship endowment fund is equal to or greater than ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00).

Section 5.  This act is effective July 1, 2019.

(END)

Speaker of the House			President of the Senate

	Governor
	TIME APPROVED: _________
	DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

Related to a story we ran here the other day, electric bicycles must be an oncoming thing as now they're being regulated more heavily.

ORIGINAL SENATE ENGROSSED

FILE NO. SF0081

ENROLLED ACT NO. 45, SENATE

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2019 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to the regulation of traffic on highways; defining and regulating electric bicycles; establishing classes of electric bicycles; requiring a label on an electric bicycle; specifying applicability; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.  W.S. 31‑5‑707 is created to read:

ARTICLE 7

BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC BICYCLES

31‑5‑707.  Electric bicycles.

(a)  The operator of an electric bicycle is subject to W.S. 31‑5‑702 and is not subject to the provisions of this title relating to financial responsibility, driver's licenses, registration, certificates of title or off‑road recreational vehicles. An electric bicycle shall not be a motor vehicle.

(b)  On and after January 1, 2020, every manufacturer or distributor of an electric bicycle shall ensure that a label is permanently affixed in a prominent location on each electric bicycle sold or distributed by the manufacturer or distributor. The label shall indicate the class number as defined in W.S. 31‑1‑101(a)(xxxiv), the top assisted speed and motor wattage of the electric bicycle and shall be printed in at least nine (9) point font.

(c)  A person shall not modify an electric bicycle to change the motor‑powered speed capability or motor engagement of the electric bicycle, unless the person replaces the label required in subsection (b) of this section indicating the classification.

(d)  An electric bicycle shall comply with United States consumer product safety commission equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles, 16 C.F.R. 1512.

(e)  An electric bicycle shall operate according to class so that when the rider stops pedaling, applies the brakes or the electric motor is disengaged, the electric motor assist ceases to function.

(f)  A local authority or state agency with jurisdiction may regulate the use of any class of electric bicycles on trails, including nonmotorized trails, under its jurisdiction. For purposes of this paragraph, "nonmotorized trail" means a trail with a natural surface made by clearing and grading the native soil with no added surfacing materials.

Section 2.  W.S. 31‑1‑101(a)(xv)(intro), (C), (E), (xxix) and by creating a new paragraph (xxxiv), 31‑5‑102(a)(xxi) through (xxiv) and by creating a new paragraph (lxviii), 31‑5‑109(a)(vii), 31‑5‑119(a) and (b), 31‑5‑203(c), 31‑5‑702 and 31‑5‑901(c) are amended to read:

31‑1‑101.  Definitions.

(a)  Except as otherwise provided, as used in this act:

(xv)  "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self‑propelled except vehicles moved solely by human power, electric bicycles or motorized skateboards.  The term includes the following vehicles as hereafter defined:

(C)  "Moped" means a vehicle equipped with two (2) or three (3) wheels, foot pedals to permit muscular propulsion by human power, an automatic transmission and a motor with cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty (50) cubic centimeters producing no more than two (2) brake horsepower, which motor is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum speed of no more than thirty (30) miles per hour on a level road surface. "Moped" does not include an electric bicycle;

(E)  "Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground but which may have attached thereto a sidecar for the purpose of transporting a single passenger.  For the purpose of registration and titling "motorcycle" includes motorized bicycles and scooters, but excludes mopeds, motorized skateboards, multipurpose vehicles, electric bicycles and off‑road recreational vehicles as defined in subparagraph (K) of this paragraph;

(xxix)  "Motorized skateboard" means a self‑propelled device which has a motor or engine, a deck on which a person may ride and at least two (2) wheels in contact with the ground and which is not otherwise defined in this act as a "motor vehicle", "motorcycle","electric bicycle", "motor‑driven cycle" or "pedestrian vehicle";.

(xxxiv)  "Electric bicycle" means a bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle for the rider's use and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts that meets the requirements of one (1) of the following three (3) classes:

(A)  "Class 1 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty (20) miles per hour;

(B)  "Class 2 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used to propel the bicycle without pedaling and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty (20) miles per hour;

(C)  "Class 3 electric bicycle" means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty‑eight (28) miles per hour.

31‑5‑102.  Definitions.

(a)  Except as otherwise provided, as used in this act:

(xxi)  "Moped" means a motor‑driven cycle both with foot pedals to permit muscular propulsion by human power and with a motor which produces no more than two (2) brake horsepower and which is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum speed of no more than thirty (30) miles per hour on a level road surface. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement shall not exceed more than fifty (50) cubic centimeters and the moped shall have a power drive system that functions directly or automatically without clutching or shifting by the driver after the drive system is engaged. "Moped" does not include an electric bicycle;

(xxii)  "Motorcycle" means any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, excluding off‑road recreation vehicles as defined in W.S. 31‑1‑101(a)(xv)(K) and electric bicycles, but including a motor vehicle designed as a recreational vehicle primarily for off‑road use to be ridden astride and to travel on four (4) wheels;

(xxiii)  "Motor‑driven cycle" means any motorcycle, including motor scooters and motorized bicycles having an engine with less than one hundred fifty (150) cubic centimeters displacement or with five (5) brake horsepower or less but does not include motorized skateboards or electric bicycles;

(xxiv)  "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is self‑propelled except vehicles moved solely by human power, electric bicycles and motorized skateboards as defined by paragraph (a)(lxii) of this section;

(lxviii)  "Electric bicycle" means as defined in W.S. 31‑1‑101(a)(xxxiv).

31‑5‑109.  General powers of local authorities.

(a)  This act does not prevent local authorities with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power from:

(vii)  Regulating the operation of bicycles and electric bicycles and requiring the registration and licensing of bicycles and electric bicycles, including the requirement of a registration fee;

31‑5‑119.  Clinging to vehicles.

(a)  No person riding upon any bicycle, electric bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach it or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.

(b)  This section does not prohibit attaching a bicycle trailer or bicycle semitrailer to a bicycle or electric bicycle if the trailer or semitrailer was designed for the attachment.

31‑5‑203.  Rules governing overtaking on the left.

(c)  The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycleor electric bicycle, which is operating lawfully, proceeding in the same direction shall, when space allows, maintain at least a three (3) foot separation between the right side of the driver's motor vehicle, including all mirrors and other projections from the motor vehicle, and the bicycle or electric bicycle.

31‑5‑702.  General rights and duties of riders.

Every person propelling a vehicle by human power or riding a bicycle or electric bicycle has all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any vehicle under this act, except as to special regulations in this act and except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application.

31‑5‑901.  General requirements; applicability of provisions.

(c)  The provisions of W.S. 31‑5‑901 through 31‑5‑970 and regulations of the superintendent with respect to equipment required on vehicles shall not apply to vehicles moved solely by human power, motorcycles, autocycles, motor‑driven cycles, mopeds, electric bicycles, multipurpose vehicles, implements of husbandry, highway construction machinery or farm tractors except as specifically made applicable.

Section 3.  This act is effective July 1, 2019.

(END)

Speaker of the House			President of the Senate

	Governor
	TIME APPROVED: _________
	DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

The Beer Freedom Act passed, allowing microbreweries to more easily sell their product off site.

ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED

BILL NO. HB0076

ENROLLED ACT NO. 41, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2019 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to alcoholic beverages; authorizing appropriate licensing authorities to issue twenty-four hour malt beverage permits to microbreweries; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.  W.S. 12‑4‑103(a)(vi) and 12‑4‑412 by creating a new subsection (j) are amended to read:

12‑4‑103.  Restrictions upon license or permit applicants and holders; license limitation per person.

(a)  A license or permit authorized by this title shall not be held by, issued or transferred to:

(vi)  A manufacturer of alcoholic beverages or wholesaler of malt beverages, except as provided in W.S. 12‑4‑412(j);

12‑4‑412.  Microbrewery and winery permits; authorized; conditions; dual permits and licenses; satellite winery permits; direct shipment of wine; fees.

(j)  In addition to the one (1) additional license or permit authorized under paragraph (b)(iii) of this section, the holder of a microbrewery permit under this section may also hold a malt beverage permit under W.S. 12‑4‑502(a) for the purpose of selling its own brewed malt beverages.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2019.

(END)

Speaker of the House			President of the Senate

	Governor
	TIME APPROVED: _________
	DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

Reflecting a change in society, illegitimacy is no longer an estate obstacle.

ORIGINAL HOUSE 

BILL NO. HB0269

ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2019 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to decedent's estates; repealing the rule of descent for an illegitimate person; making a conforming amendment; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.  W.S. 2‑1‑301(a)(v) is amended to read:

2‑1‑301.  Generally.

(a)  When used in this code, unless otherwise defined or required by the context, the following words and phrases shall be construed as follows:

(v)  "Child" includes an adopted child but does not include a grandchild or other more remote descendent;, nor, except as provided in Chapter 4, an illegitimate child;

Section 2.  W.S. 2‑4‑102 is repealed.

Section 3.  This act applies to all probate matters filed or commenced on or after the effective date of this act.

Section 4.  This act is effective July 1, 2019.

(END)

Speaker of the House			President of the Senate

	Governor
	TIME APPROVED: _________
	DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

And also reflecting the march of technology, the state will now regulate technology in hunting, as well it should.

ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED

BILL NO. HB0002

ENROLLED ACT NO. 54, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

2019 GENERAL SESSION

AN ACT relating to game and fish; providing rulemaking authority for the regulation of methods of taking wildlife; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.  W.S. 23‑1‑302(a) by creating a new paragraph (xxxii) is amended to read:

23‑1‑302.  Powers and duties.

(a)  The commission is directed and empowered:

(xxxii)  To adopt rules regulating, limiting or prohibiting the use of hunting technologies and the selling of wildlife geographic locations. "Hunting technologies" shall be limited to those technologies specified in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of this paragraph. No rule adopted pursuant to this paragraph shall apply to the taking of predatory animals as defined in W.S. 23‑1‑101(a) or to the use of hunting technologies by USDA APHIS wildlife damage management personnel when acting in their official capacity.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to limit any other authority of the commission provided in this act to regulate the taking of wildlife. Before promulgating any rule under this paragraph, the commission shall submit the proposed rule in writing to the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee and appear before the committee upon request. Rules promulgated under this paragraph shall only apply to:

(A)  Thermal or infrared imaging or other imaging outside the normal visible light spectrum;

(B)  Real time video photography equipment or video imaging viewable remotely; or

(C)  The selling of wildlife geographic locations.

Section 2.  This act is effective July 1, 2019.

(END)

Speaker of the House			President of the Senate

	Governor
	TIME APPROVED: _________
	DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk