This bill supports more alternatives for depositories, particularly for rural areas.  It allows communities like Shoshone and Wright who do not have state banks to deposit in a state approved credit union.

WAM Action Taken: 1/20/17 Laurie Heath testified in support and presented a letter from Mayor Peters (Shoshone).  

This bill, noted on the 2017 Legislative Agenda, supports the request from Casper and Jackson for a Wyoming ski area safety act.

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

2/16/17 Laid back on 3rd Reading

2/15/17 Passed 2nd Reading in Senate  

WAM ACTION: 2/8,17, bill passed as amended Senate Minerals 5-0.  

WAM ACTION: 2/6/17, bill heard by Senate Minerals, laid back until 2/8/17.

WAM Action Taken: 1/18/17 Laurie Heath testified in support.  After much debate from support and opposition, the bill moved with an amendment to remove Section 7 and add general language referring to current laws on liability.  This seemed supportive by the ski areas but anticipate further discussion as goes to floor.  1/20/17 Passed General File by 1 vote 1/24/17 Passed House in 3rd reading

This bill resolves a resolution presented at the 2016 WAM annual convention and was an issue noted in the 2017 Legislative Agenda.  WAM will submit the bill to Cheyenne, Jackson and other applicable WAM members that may participate in cross-state transportation agreements to request comments to determine if this meets the needs to reduce liabilities and increase intra-state agreements.

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

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

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

WAM ACTION: 2/6/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support of the bill, bill passed 5-0 by the Senate Transportation Committee. 

This bill results from ongoing discussion of tax avoidance on vehicle/RV purchases from 'shell' businesses and seeks to collect appropriate sales/use taxes due. Listed as a WAM Priority bill since a possible additional source of revenue for local government.

This bill may effect the revenues of local governments and zoning or local ordinances dealing with mobile homes.

WAM ACTION: Passed 3rd reading in Senate

WAM ACTION:WAM ACTION: 2/14/17, bill passed Senate Corporations Committee 8-1.   

WAM ACTION: 1/20/17, Bill was amended, support from Realtors Assoc, Banker's Assoc, no need for WAM to testify--RK

WAM ACTION: 2/9/17 Bill was again amended to secure continuum of interest or 'paper trail' to give assurance to lenders while not holding up the process for the mobile home seller.   

This bill alters the make up of the public safety commission to include WAM or other LG organizations as members of the commission.

WAM ACTION: 2/6/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support of the bill, bill passed 5-0 by the Senate Transportation Committee.

This model bill establishes statewide rules for transportation services like UBER and LYFT. WAM met with UBER representatives to discuss concerns and to promote local revenue generation options.  The final bill will be amended to charge a 4% tax per ride in compliance with current TNC rules.  The DOR will distribute the funds to the municipality or county that the ride originated similar to sales and use tax distributions.  

WAM conducted a survey to the Clerks/Treasurers regarding which community had taxi services and what background checks were required for these services.  Generally, based on the response, it appears ~<20 cities and towns have taxi services and a variety of background checks with <5 requiring finger printing.    

WAM Action: 1/17/17--Rick Kaysen testified, bill passed Committee as amended. WAM was ensured per current statute that state sales tax at 4% would be collected as it is with taxi and limousine services.   1/24/17 Passed 3rd reading in the House

WAM Action:2/14/17 WAM attended Senate sub-committee in support and the bill passed to the full Senate.  

This bill provides for recovery of delinquent workers compensation payments from employers through installment plans and modified interest if needed. There is an allowance of one year to recover payments from the employer. Streamlining employment bills is a priority on WAM's 2017 Legislative Agenda.

This bill identifies State funding for water projects with some being municipal projects. WAM members with water projects in this bill are Cody, Cowley, Gillette, Glenrock, Opal, Thayne, Wheatland, Casper, Deaver, Thermopolis, Riverton, Green River/Rock Springs, Laramie, and multiple irrigation districts. The expectation is all the projects on this bill will be funded but future projects are at risk of funding due to the fact that the supplemental budget proposes Water Development Commission funds are shared with the SEO department.  As of 2/16/17, appears this omnibus construction bill will pass securing funding for the listed projects.

2/16/17 Passed 2nd Reading in Senate

WAM ACTION: 2/7/17, Bill Senate passed Agricultural Committee 5-0.

WAM ACTION: 1/23/17, Bill passed 7-0 with no amendments=RK 

This bill seeks to increase compliance with existing taxation of vehicles. The bill specifically calls out natural gas vehicles but WAM suggests it should include electric powered vehicles as well (page 4, line 4).

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 modifies and expands the ability of attorney and court costs to be awarded to the prevailing party in a case brought on by the government entity, including incorporated municipalities.  This would directly impact the approved budgets of the municipalities.

WAM Action Taken: 1/23/17 Laurie Heath testified in opposition.  Bill failed in committee 

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 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 repeals gun free zones on any public college or university campus.

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

WAM ACTION: 2/1/17, bill passed the House as amended 40-19-1, 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 6-3.

1/30/17 An amendment failed that would give trustees the authority to determine concealed carry rules and locations.  Bill passed General File, 1st reading. 

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 increases the tax per cigarettes from $.006 to $.009 with the increase of distribution to municipalities from 33 1/3% to 74 1/2%.

WAM Action Taken: 1/25/17 Laurie Heath testified in support stressing although this is small revenue, WAM should support any revenue change. 

This bill proposes to increase the tax on alcoholic beverages, and revises the distribution of those taxes with 22% to the general fund and 78% to the school foundation.

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

The tax on tobacco increases and could, due to reduction in consumption, result in decreases in local revenues.

WAM Action Taken: 1/25/17 Laurie Heath testified in general support.  Bill failed in committee 

This legislation changes the proceeds flowing to local governments by splitting the 1% in half with half going to the General Fund.  

WAM UPDATE: 1/27/17, bill was not heard 1/27 because of time constraints, planned to be heard 1/31.  An amendment is to be proposed to reduce the one-half of one percent (.5%) to one-quarter of one percent (.25%).

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.