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 removes the sunset and amount limitations on Wyoming lottery proceeds to local government.  It also provides for a once per year distribution of revenues.

WAM ACTION: 3/1/17, bill passed Senate COW 28-2 on third and final reading.  

WAM ACTION: 2/28/17, bill passed Senate on second reading.   

WAM ACTION: 2/23/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support, bill passed Senate Revenue Committee 3-0 with two excused. 

WAM Action Taken: 1/18/17 Laurie Heath testified in support and alignment with WCCA, bill was moved to floor with an amendment that changed distribution formulas from sales tax base to point of sale of the lottery tickets. The intent is to increase engagement in the county or municipalities if revenue was directed back to them.  

This bill repeals gun free zones for governmental entity meetings and the Wyoming legislature.  WAM's position in the 2016 legislative session was to allow local governing bodies the ability to determine gun free zones.

WAM ACTION: 3/1/17, House did not concur with Senate, headed toward conference committee, no date schedlued for committee meeting.    

WAM ACTION: 2/27/17 Sen Von Flatern presented two amendments to give local control to local government into HB137 with the testimony that it would match the HB194 that gives local school boards local control and the existing local control to community colleges and university.  Both amendments failed.  A 3rd amendment to allow local government to add electronic security also failed. The proponents of the bill stated they were upholding their Constitution right to bear arms. The bill passed repealing gun free zones in government meetings by the Senate COW 20-10.  

WAM ACTION: 2/25/17 Requested Sen Von Flatern present an amendment to add in language allowing local control for elected officials.  A similar amendment was presented by Sen Burns on 2/24/17 but failed. 

WAM ACTION: 2/23/17 Passed COW in Senate 16-14

WAM ACTION: 2/15/17, Rick Kaysen testified in opposition to the bill, bill passed Senate Judiciary 4-1.  

Rick WAM ACTION: 2/1/17, bill passed the House as amended 47-13, amendment allows for permits issued outside of WY to carry on campus and changes weapon to firearms. 

WAM ACTION: 1/24/17, Rick Kaysen testified in opposition to the Bill, Bill passed 8-1 as amended to remove private property from the language. 1/30/17 Bill passed General File, 1st reading with amendment to remove private property - applies to public entities. 

WAM ACTION: 2/15/17 Rick Kaysen testified to allow local control to determine the rules for their community. Bill passed 4-1 out of Judiciary Committee.  On General File for 2/16/17 

This bill modernizes the state archives system to include digital images.  WAM will monitor this bill and work with the State archives staff to understand if this imposes an undue burden on digitizing records from municipalities to the state archives. Also WAM and WAMCAT members are evaluating the bill to determine if a certain type of software will be required and which impose additional costs.

WAM ACTION: 2/21/17, bill passed House COW on third reading consent list.