CHEYENNE, Wyo. — During their first floor session of the 2020 budget session, the Wyoming House of Representatives considered a number of proposed bills for introduction.
“It’s so good to be back in this House,” Speaker of the House Steve Harshman said ahead of the vote, noting that the legislative body had returned to the Wyoming State Capitol following renovations to the building.
“Budgets are people,” Harshman added. “They are people in our county hospital…people teaching our kids…people making sure that we stay safe, all those things.”
“We all have things that we are going to have to compromise on…We’ve got a lot of work to do, so thank you, and let’s get to work.”
During a budget session, at least two-thirds of the House must vote to have a proposed bill introduced. Those bills which meet this threshold are then assigned to a committee.
On a consent vote during the Monday, Feb. 10 session, the House voted to introduce the following bills:
- HB0009 Abstracts of court records.
- HB0010 Human trafficking-penalty for subsequent conviction.
- HB0011 Qualified residential treatment programs.
- HB0012 Motor vehicle violations-penalties.
- HB0014 Drilling units-risk penalties and mandatory royalties.
- HB0016 Consolidation of theft crimes.
- HB0042 Good time allowances for jail time.
- HB0015 School capital construction account.
- HB0023 School district procurement amendment.
- HB0051 Professional services procurement-amendments.
- HB0052 Public works and contracts.
- HB0053 Education accounts-investment earnings.
- HB0136 Unclaimed property funds-investments.
- HB0094 Budget modifications-executive.
- HB0039 Remote education within a school district.
- HB0040 School finance – model recalibration.
- HB0046 Special education funding.
- HB0081 Emergency water projects account.
- HB0097 Omnibus water bill – construction.
- HB0019 Municipal right-of-way franchise fees.
- HB0020 Municipal bonds-digital securities.
- HB0021 Insurance investments-digital assets.
- HB0026 Tribal ID for voting.
- HB0005 Driver’s licenses and IDs.
- HB0006 Commercial operators-registration and authority to operate.
- HB0007 Commercial learner’s permits.
- HB0069 Wildlife conservation efforts-1.
- HB0024 Medicaid birth costs recovery-amendments.
- HB0031 Criminal justice-mental health-substance use programming.
- HB0003 Wyoming energy authority-amendments.
- HB0004 Wyoming coal marketing program.
- HB0045 Special purpose depository institutions-amendments.
- HB0131 Wage claim assignment and investigations.
- HB0132 Unpaid wage claim amendments.
Committees which have been assigned these bills will vote to “pass,” “do not pass” or “pass with amendments.”
Bills which make it out of committee then return to the full House for consideration. The House then must approve a bill on three readings before it is sent to the Senate.
If the Senate passes the bill with no amendments, the bill is sent to the governor’s desk for consideration. If they tack on amendments, then the bill is assigned to the Joint Conference Committee to reconcile differences.
If that committee can reach a consensus, the bill is sent to the governor who can sign or veto the bill. The House and Senate are able to override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
