This bill requires county clerks and commissioners to adopt procedures for absentee ballots.  WAM will monitor as it may have an effect on municipal clerks for special elections. 

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 $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.