This bill clarifies local government's protocol when displaying the honor and remember flag.

WAM ACTION: 2/27/17, bill passed Senate COW on third reading. 

WAM ACTION: 2/9/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support of the bill as the bill provides for an option to fly the Honor Flag and allows local entity to decide, bill passed the Senate Travel Committee 5-0.  

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 details the proposed appropriations of funds for select school facilities.  This bill proposes that $80M be transferred from LSRA with additional funding for capital construction, land acquisition, and other costs equally ~$4.65M.  WAM will monitor to see if creates impacts on the local government funding from LSRA or local infrastructure projects.  

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 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 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 allows each school district to determine if a school employee can carry a concealed weapon to protect the school.  As relates to WAM, the HB137 or HB136 amendments or discussions does not allow such local control.

WAM ACTION: 2/1/17, bill passed the House 46-14, no amendments.

This bill addresses education funding through revisions of the existing formula, provides for additional revenue through cut backs and 0.5% sales tax, establishes a joint select committee on funding, requires reports, provides appropriations, and provides for a sunset date.

WAM ACTION: 1/31/17, bill continued to be worked.

WAM ACTION: 1/30/17, after 3 hours of testimony and beginning to work the bill, the bill was laid back for a date and time to be determined.  Three parts to this bill 1) revenue increases, 2) reductions, 3) creation of a select committee. Education officials are concerned over more reductions, focus on students, special education needs, local boards make better decisions, recalibration.  Education funding is a $400m per year issue, and school funds are near broke if not broke.  Need to use rainy day funds to support education.

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 will study and make recommendations on requirements for audits and accounting practices for towns under 4,000.

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

WAM ACTION: 2/22/17, Rick Kaysen testified on the bill, concerned on what expense may be incurred by small towns, need for compliance, not jeopardize federal grant funds, bill passed Senate Corporations Committee 4-0. Suggestion that this may be an interim topic as well. WAM Staff meets with State Dept of Audit 2/23/17 to develop working guidelines for towns should bill be approved. 

This bill requests Congress to call a convention to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget.

Requests Congress to call a convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the US to require that every law enacted by Congress shall addresses only one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title. 

Bill supporting a special committee of experts to manage the state's investment

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

This bill increases hiring preferences for military spouses, which could influence personnel decisions of WAM members.

WAM ACTION: 2/9/17, bill provides for preference only during the interview process, bill passed the House Transportation Committee 5-4. 

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 effect local governments obligations for firefighters.

WAM ACTION: 2/28/17, Senate concurred with House amendments.  

WAM ACTION: 2/27/17, bill passed the House COW as amended 53-7. 

WAM ACTION: 2/24/17, bill passed House COW on second reading. 

WAM ACTION: 2/15/17, bill passed House Labor Committee 9-0 as amended. 

WAM ACTION: 2/2/17, bill passed Senate COW.  

WAM ACTION:1/25/17, Rick Kaysen testified, bill requires technical amendments as well as probable other amendments, laid back until 1/27/17.  Placed on Senate General File

This bill increases eligibility of small water projects to receive funding upon approval of the legislature.

WAM ACTION: 2/28/17, bill failed House on General File, indefinitely postponed, possible interim topic.   

WAM ACTION: 1/261/7, bill passed with inclusive amendments 4-1, amendments to be refined by LSO.

WAM ACTION: 2/14/17 Laurie Heath testified in opposition of this bill since it changes the approval process to seemingly offer the Legislature to decide small water projects without the input of the WDC.  If the bill was moved as is, it could compete with the large water projects that benefit the cities and towns.  It was a shared opinion from Conservation Districts, Stock Growers, and Farm Bureau to look at this during the interim.  Bill passed

This bill allows for dissolving control from the State Fire Marshall to local governments following a state approved process while still providing assistance upon request.

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

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

WAM Action Taken: 1/18/17 Laurie Heath testified in support

WAM ACTION:2/14/17,Rick Kaysen testified in support,bill passed House Corporations Committee 9-0.   

This bill provides for an economic diversification council to oversee and promote economic diversification activities in the state.  The bill details the council duties, deliverables and staff.

WAM ACTION: 2/28/17, Senate concurred with House amendments.  

WAM ACTION: 2/27/17, bill passed House COW as amended 45-15. 

WAM ACTION: 2/24/17, bill passed House COW on second reading as amended. 

WAM ACTION:2/14/17, Rick Kaysen testified in support of the bill, passed House Appropriations 4-1.   

WAM ACTION: Rick Kaysen testified in support of the bill, passed House Minerals 8-1.  

WAM ACTION: 1/25/17, bill passed committee 4-1; amended that $1.5 of the $2.5M will be used for workforce development utilizing community colleges for training.

This bill creates a committee from legislature and private sector to evaluate state government efficiencies.  A report will be submitted to Legislature in November 2017.

WAM ACTION: 2/28/17, Senate did not concur with House amendments, will go to joint conference committee.  

WAM ACTION: 2/27/17, bill passed the House COW 49-11.  

This bill modifies the rate discount for compliance compliance a drug and alcohol testing program, provides for an experience modification rate for out of state employers moving operations to WY, provides for a premium credit for employers, provides for rule making.

WAM ACTION: 2/27/17, bill passed House COW 48-12.

WAM ACTION: 2/24/17, bill passed House COW on second reading. 

WAM ACTION: 2/15/17, bill passed House Labor Committee 8-1.