This bill supports the collection of internet sales and use tax and is part of WAM's 2017 legislative agenda.

WAM Action Taken: 1/13/17 Shelley Simonton testified in support; 2/15/17 Bill passed both House and Senate  

This bill increases flexibility for a micro brewery's business operations in Wyoming. WAM supports since promotes economic development of Wyoming based breweries.

WAM ACTION: 2/16/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed Senate Corporations Committee 3-0 with 1 excused and 1 conflict. 

This bill increases the lodging taxation rate allowable from 4% to 6% along with other provisions that would provide potential local government funding.  

WAM Action Taken: 1/18/17 Laurie Heath testified that WAM was monitoring the bill.  As the bill was reviewed and compared, there was opposition from retailing and tourism industry.  This lodging tax bill failed but it was added to the Corporation list for an interim committee topic.     

This bill adds $4 tax on wind development projects to the existing $1 tax.  WAM's position is to leave the existing $1 tax but do not add additional tax that would reduce incentives for economic development.  This is consistent with WAM's 2017 legislative agenda.

WAM ACTION: 1/23/17, Rick Kaysen testified in opposition to the Bill, Bill failed on a 7-2 vote.  

This bill appears to have the ability to present challenges to municipalities when dealing with employee discrimination law or situations.  Additionally, WAM's opposes this bill with the intent to keep Wyoming's laws and appearance as friendly and equal when it pertains to economic development opportunities.

WAM UPDATE: 1/26/17, this bill was withdrawn by its sponsors, may go to interim topic.  

This bill increases the minimum wage from $5.15 to $950 per hour, for tipped employees raise from $2.13 to $5.50 per hour.

WAM ACTION: 1/31/17, bill failed the COw 40-20. 

This bill allows up to 50% of the 4% lodging tax receipts that are voted by local election.  The funds could be split between tourism and the other for other local government general fund activities.

1/20/17 This bill failed in committee  

This bill alters the role of the Dept. of Revenue and reduces state control of the distribution and sale of alcohol.

WAM ACTION: 1/23/17, Rick Kaysen attended, available testimony time used liquor association and DOR, Bill failed 9-0.

This bill implements an auction process for retail liquor license issuance and sets new limits for transfer and renewal fees.  WAM is in contact with Rep Walters suggesting local license authority explicitly explained and the 'shall' changed to 'may'.  WAM will testify once in committee.

WAM ACTION: 1/30/17, Rick Kaysen testified stating WAM has several concerns with the bill as presented, made suggestions on several amendments, bill laid over until 1/31/17 (time constraints), Rick will formally present amendments 1/31/17.

WAM UPDATE: 1/31/17, Bill failed 7-2.

This bill provides $100K for grants to local governments preparing for the solar eclipse day in 2017.

WAM ACTION: 1/27/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill was amended to not provide administrative days for state employees, and allows Homeland Security to address matching grants. Bill passed 5-4.

WAM UPDATE: 1/31/17 Bill moved from Appropriations to House with an amendment to take the funding from the Homeland Security accounts.   

This bill provides an appropriation of $25M from the LSRA to the economic development account within the revolving investment funds, specifies use of a portion of the appropriation. The initial bill requires not less than $5M to be used to increase broadband services across the state.

WAM ACTION: 3/1/17, House concurred with Senate confernce committee, bill adopted.    

WAM ACTION: 2/10/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, Senate Minerals passed bill 5-0. 

WAM ACTION: 1/30/17 Laurie Heath testified in support reminding that if broadband was budgeted to consider increasing connectivity then consider connections into the municipal government buildings. Bill was amended to remove the broadband earmark language and passed committee.  

This bill addresses corporations and limited liability companies, altering licensing fees.

WAM ACTION: 2/21/17, bill passed Senate Corporations Committee 5-0, may be an interim topic as well.

WAM ACTION: 2/1/17, bill passed appropriations Committee 7-0 as amended, amendment reduces fees from $150 to $75.

This bill raises taxes on alcohol to support funding of Children's Trust Fund, Court Supervised Treatment and Juvenile Services.

WAM ACTION: 2/1/17, bill failed the Revenue Committee 5-4.

This bill adds steps to the process of revoking a sales tax or liquor license by requiring approval by the Board of Equalization.  WAM will work to maintain local government authority.

WAM ACTION: 2/10/17, passed House COW, this bill does not diminish local governments ability to revoke or suspend a license, it allows the State Liquor Division to revoke if sales taxes are not paid.

WAM ACTION: 2/6/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support of the bill, passed the Revenue Committee 9-0.

This bill specifies liquor license criteria for manufacturing, sample amount for dispensing, and manufacturing site compliance.

WAM ACTION: 2/15/17, bill passed House COW.  

WAM ACTION: 2/7/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed House Corporations Committee 8-1.   

WAM Action Taken: 1/12/17 Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed    

This bill will apply stricter compliance to liquor license holders that are inoperative or 'parked'.  The license holder will need to have an operational business within one year of issuance, with a grace period of a second year if local authority approves.  The bill does not return the license to the licensing authority but can be sold and transferred on the open market.  WAM generally supports the revisions to free up licenses for economic development.

WAM ACTION: 2/22/17, bill passed House COW on third and final reading. 

WAM ACTION: 2/21/17, bill passed House COW on second reading. 

WAM ACTION: 2/14/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed House Corporations Committee 8-1. 

This bill updates antiquated liquor statutes in various situations.  WAM met with the Wyoming Liquor Division in the interim session providing comment and support of this bill.  It is noted on the 2017 WAM Legislative agenda.

WAM ACTION: 2/15/17, bill passed House COW. 

WAM ACTION: 2/8/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed House Corporations Committee as amended 9-0.  

WAM Action Taken: 1/12/17 Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed committee 

 This bill supports relaxing a number of liquor rules pertaining to the definition of dispensing rooms.  WAM generally supports this bill since it helps bring the liquor laws to current times for certain license holders and opens flexibility for club venues.  Although one amendment was approved to allow some variance for the restaurant dispensing "room" dimensions,  the requirements to have a dispensing room were not removed.

WAM ACTION: 2/7/19, WAM ACTION: 2/7/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed House Corporations Committee 8-1.  

WAM Action Taken: 1/12/17 WAM attended Corporations committee when bill was reviewed but it was laid back until 1/17/17.  On 1/17/17, Laurie Heath testified in general support, stating WAM will seek continued collaboration with the liquor division and liquor association to update liquor laws with the goal to increase availability of licenses for economic development opportunities.

This bill extends the sunset on tax exemptions for manufacturing machinery until Dec. 31, 2027 (10 years). WAM's position for tax exemptions is they should encourage economic development and should have a sunset provision. 

WAM ACTION: 3/1/17, bill passed House COW on third reading.  

This bill may assist local governments participation in constructing or acquiring natural gas pipelines or other utilities.  This is supported in WAM's 2017 legislative agenda.

WAM ACTION: 1/26/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, SLIB did not approve funding.  Bill laid back, may be an interim topic.