Wyoming Legislature updates – early March
by Albert Sommers, House District #20 Representative
March 8, 2018
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Hello Sublette County, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you from Cheyenne on Tuesday, March 6. Today, we continued to debate the Governor’s ENDOW bills on second reading, as they passed to third reading. In my Appropriations Committee today we heard SF71, the Senate’s version of the Stand Your Ground bill, which expands the self-defense statutes. I did not support HB168, a similar bill, because it was not supported by the Sublette County Sheriff or County Attorney. HB168 would have radically changed Wyoming law, affecting the ability of police to detain suspects for investigation. SF71 was heavily amended in the Senate, with the result that law enforcement and county attorneys can live with that bill. I voted for SF71 in committee, because I do support our right to self-defense.
Passing Committee of the Whole today were bills prioritizing landfill cease and transfer projects, legalizing and regulating biological pharmaceutical products, putting some restrictions on the number of years a veteran can receive free tuition, creating a State Fair Board, expanding the definition of vulnerable adults, and making computer science a requirement for school districts.
Senate File 62, the omnibus water planning bill, passed Committee of the Whole today with my support. One of the bill’s projects is a Level II feasibility study for repair of the Silver Lake Dam in Sublette County.
Senate File 61, which passed with my support, would allow fluorescent pink to be utilized as a hunting color.
Senate File 83 also passed with my support. This is a bill I initiated which further defines portions of the opioid tracking program. Currently, only licensed pharmacies must report to the opioid tracking program, but this bill would expand that to include all dispensers of opioids, with some exceptions for dispensing in medical facilities.
We have not reached a compromise with the Senate on the budget, the State capital construction bill, or the House comprehensive education funding bill.
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com
Thank you
Monday, March 5, 2018
Hello Sublette County, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you from Cheyenne on Monday, March 5. Today, I had the honor of showing Robin Schamber and the Wyoming 4-H Leadership team around the floor of the House. This group included three students from Sublette County. Seeing such a good group of young people really gives me hope about the future of our state.
Today in Committee of the Whole we heard three bills that had been generated by the Governor’s ENDOW Executive Committee. Senate File 40 would create a new air service program to replace the existing air enhancement program, and we have been told that by doing so we can replace the expenditure of $60 million over ten years with the expenditure of $15 million. This is accomplished by long term contracts with airlines. Senate File 100 would create a broadband grant program for public/private partnerships. The bill was developed with the telecommunications industry at the table. High speed, high quality, affordable broadband is essential if Wyoming wants to remain economically relevant in today’s business world. Senate File 108 would create an international trade representative, seek to find strategies to bring USDA inspected meat packing plants to Wyoming, and enhance the marketing of Wyoming agricultural products. All three of these bills passed Committee of the Whole today, and I supported all of them.
Other bills of importance that passed today with my support included SF89, the local government distributions bill, which provides extra funding to counties and municipalities using a formula based upon population and needs. Senate File 69, funding projects of the Wyoming Natural Resource Trust Fund board, passed as well. The bill funds important wildlife and natural resource related projects across the state of Wyoming. We also passed out of Committee of the Whole a resolution recognizing the 150th anniversary of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com
Thank you
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