Wyoming Legislature update – March 29, 2021
by Albert Sommers, House District #20 Representative
March 29, 2021
3-29-2021
Hello Sublette County, this is Albert Sommers reporting to you from Cheyenne on March 29, 2021. Today, the House and Senate passed their respective conference committee reports on the budget. The budget was then signed by both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The budget will now head to the Governor, who may line-item veto parts of the budget. After that we will have the opportunity to overturn his vetoes. In order to overturn a governor’s veto, both House and Senate must have the support of a two-thirds majority. That is a high bar. The budget bill cut more than $400 million from state government.
The House passed several bills on 3rd Reading today that I supported, including SF0056, Wyoming gaming commission - modifications and corrections, which reauthorizes and further regulates gambling machines that are called skill games. These machines have existed in our local bars for several years in a quasi-legal status. This bill makes skill games legal, regulates them, and taxes the proceeds off them. Our local bar owners want the machines because they provide a small income during slow times. I have supported the regulation of these machines.
SF0088, Ownership of fossils and artifacts, ensures that fossils and artifacts belong to the surface owner and not to the mineral owner on a piece of property.
SF0119, Investment of state permanent funds, provides more flexibility to the state treasurer when he invests Wyoming’s savings. The overall risk profile of the investments shall not exceed the risk profile of a reference portfolio that consists of 70 percent global equities and 30 percent domestic fixed income investments. Investment income from Wyoming’s savings has amounted to as much as 25 percent of the State’s total revenue stream. This policy is a best practice for large sovereign wealth funds.
Today in the House Committee of the Whole, bills that passed included SF0083, Gillette college community college district, which creates a new community college district provided it passes a vote of the people of Campbell County. Gillette College has been part of the Northern Wyoming Community College district, but is now asking to split off. Campbell County has the money to operate a community college without the need for state support. I voted for this effort.
SF0019, Public health emergencies - immunity amendments, provides that for any action involving a COVID 19 liability claim against a person or entity, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the claimant accepted and assumed the risk. This protects businesses, including health care facilities, from frivolous lawsuits over COVID infections.
More information about these bills and many more can be found at https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2021
I can be reached at albert@albertsommers.com with questions or comments.
Thank you
|
