WAM's 2017 Wyoming 64th Legislature Agenda 

WAM has taken a proactive approach to the 64th Wyoming Legislative Session with the Legislative Leadership Committee approving the following agenda. Throughout 2016, resolutions were drafted, a Municipal Finance Report with recommendations was published, and other issues relative to Wyoming's cities and towns were presented to WAM members.  The following briefly details issues that will be supported or monitored during the session.  Other bills that are presented during the session will be addressed accordingly and messaged in the weekly legislative reports. 

For additional information and daily updates, follow the bill activity on the Advocacy Page of WAM's improved website wyomuni.org.  For questions please contact Rick Kaysen (rkaysen@wyomuni.org) or Laurie Heath (lheath@wyomuni.org).

Municipal Finance Report Recommendations

  • Support securing the remaining direct distribution ($52.5M)
  • Monitor and provide input for modifications of the direct distribution formula 
  • Support funding for state grant and loan programs 
  • Support bills that increase local revenue generating authority
  • Support increasing state sales and use tax by 1% or adjusting the split to add funding to local government
  • Support amending the property tax limit to add flexibility to local government 
  • Support sales tax exemptions that promote economic development
  • Support efforts to increase operating efficiencies

WAM Annual Convention Resolutions

  • Monitor and advocate for bills that improve intra-state public transportation
  • Support statewide repeal of food sales tax 
  • Support clarification and ease of process for nuisance and dangerous abandoned buildings
  • Monitor lodging tax changes to align with the lodging and restaurant association
  • Support preserving current wind tax, but oppose increasing the tax in order to enhance economic development 

 WAM Member Requests as of 12-21-16

  • Support existing bill to allow natural gas pipeline to provide services in NE Wyoming 
  • Support to maintain municipal extraterritorial jurisdiction
  • Monitor transportation bill that will offer UBER services
  • Support bills to revise employment laws related to seasonal or temporary employees
  • Support bills in line with the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police as relates to use of body worn cameras and drones 
  • Support skier liability codes for communities with ski areas
  • Monitor vertical local assessment district bills to encourage infill development improving blighted areas 
  • Support sales tax on online/internet purchases