CASPER, Wyo. — On a vote of 55-4, the Wyoming House of Representatives passed House Bill 04, a “Wyoming coal marketing program” bill.
The House vote came on Tuesday Feb. 18 during a floor session consent list vote. The bill will move to the Senate for consideration.
The Representatives voted on third reading as follows:
Ayes: BARLOW, BLACKBURN, BLAKE, BROWN, BURKHART, BURLINGAME, CLAUSEN, CLEM, CLIFFORD, CRANK, DAYTON-SELMAN, DUNCAN, EDWARDS, EKLUND, EYRE, FLITNER, FREEMAN, FURPHY, GRAY, GREEAR, HALEY, HALLINAN, HENDERSON, HUNT, JENNINGS, KINNER, HARSHMAN, KIRKBRIDE, LARSEN LLOYD, LAURSEN DAN, LINDHOLM, LOUCKS, MACGUIRE, MILLER, NEWSOME, NICHOLAS, OBERMUELLER, OLSEN, PAXTON, PIIPARINEN, POWNALL, ROSCOE, SALAZAR, SIMPSON, SOMMERS, STITH, STYVAR, SWEENEY, TASS, WALTERS, WASHUT, WESTERN, WILSON, WINTER, ZWONITZER
Nays: CONNOLLY, PELKEY, SCHWARTZ, YIN
Excused: NORTHRUP
Wyoming Legislative Service Office
The House killed an amendment to the bill on first reading which would have raised the coal marketing funding to $2 million.
The house bill would create a Wyoming coal marketing program “to protect and expand Wyoming’s coal markets and coal facilities and to address impacts cities, towns and counties have experienced or will experience due to changes in the coal market.”
If the current version of the bill were to be signed into law, $1 million from the state’s general fund would be appropriated for the “Wyoming Coal Marketing Program Account.”
The governor would be in charge of administering the marketing program.
Funds could only be expended for the following types of projects:
- Projects with a public benefit associated with expanding and protecting Wyoming’s coal markets and coal facilities
- Projects with a public benefit that address impacts cities, towns and counties have experienced or will experience due to changes in the coal market
The state’s attorney general would have to provide a written opinion “certifying the legality of the transaction and all documents connected therewith” before the expenditure of any funds could be authorized.
The governor would be required to report to the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee by Oct. 1 of each year on any projects under the program.
In addition to the $1 million that would be added to the marketing account, donation and grants could also be added.
“The governor may accept, and shall deposit in the account, any gifts, contributions, donations, grants or federal funds specifically designated for the benefit of the Wyoming coal marketing program or any project funded under the program,” the proposed bill reads.
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This article originally appeared on Oil City News. Used with permission.
